tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35934317449022525342024-03-05T22:01:18.570+00:00 Brew and Books ReviewReading and reviewing books with a brew in my hand...johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.comBlogger392125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-42339500549905450522020-03-15T07:05:00.000+00:002020-03-15T07:05:18.191+00:00#ForBetterForWorse @JaneIsaacAuthor @ariafiction<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About For Better, For Worse </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stuart Ingram was once a respected local councillor...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first time the police knocked on Gina's door, they arrested her husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second time, they accused him of child abuse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But he died a guilty man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time, the police are here for Gina – to tell her that her husband is dead. Murdered, just two weeks before his trial.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gina always stood by her husband. Even when everyone else walked away. She believed the trial would clear his name. But now Stuart is dead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And his wife is the suspect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a race against time for DC Beth Chamberlain to uncover the truth – especially when a second man turns up dead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Domestic noir meets police procedural in this pacy thriller from Jane Isaac, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing, Fiona Barton and K.L. Slater. Previously published as Presumed Guilty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of For Better, For Worse</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new Jane Isaac novel is always such a treat and For Better, For Worse</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, really is no exception. As always the writing is punchy, the pace is fast and the characters are well drawn. This book blends together a murder mystery and an unfolding family drama to create a dark, tense and unsettling read. I could not put this book down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story begins with the death of disgraced local businessman and councillor, Stuart Ingram, who is about to face charges of child sexual exploitation. He is murdered, killed in a hit and run only a few weeks before the trial is about to start. Everyone has abandoned him, apart from his wife, Gina, who has stood beside him. But was she right to do so? Was Stuart guilty or innocent? Who killed him and why? The opening chapters conjure up so many questions and more are asked as another man is found dead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DC Beth Chamberlain investigates the murder and her role as Family Liaison Officer gives her a greater insight into the Ingram family dynamics. She meets not only Gina, but their estranged daughter. Beth starts to dig into the past and the allegations that Stuart faced. Is his death related to the trial or to something else? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This novel looks closely at how a family deals with the strain and tension that is involved when a loved one is accused of a terrible crime. I thought the portrayal of Gina was incredibly genuine. I empathised completely with this character and felt her anguish and tug of war emotions for the man she loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also have another strong female presence in the form of DC Beth Chamberlain. Wow, the strength of this woman. Wouldn't we all want to be like her. She is trying to juggle life on the force after a past traumatic case, while dealing with her sister who doesn't always make the best life decisions. I admire this character so much. She is so very real and an utterly fresh voice in the realm of detective slash domestic noir fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Better, For Worse, is a gripping, immersive and disturbing read. Having said that, this book is also full of hope and that there is light in a world of darkness. I look forward to reading the next instalment in the DC Beth Chamberlain series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Better, For Worse is published on March 19th by Aria. </span><br />
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johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-28321132072759313712020-02-25T13:31:00.002+00:002020-02-25T13:41:28.691+00:00#BlackRiver @willrdean @PtBlankBks #TeamTuva<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About Black River</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An electrifying return for relentless reporter Tuva Moodyson, from the author of Dark Pines and Red Snow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FEAR</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuva’s been living clean in southern Sweden for four months when she receives horrifying news. Her best friend Tammy Yamnim has gone missing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SECRETS</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Racing back to Gavrik at the height of Midsommar, Tuva fears for Tammy’s life. Who has taken her, and why? And who is sabotaging the small-town search efforts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LIES</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surrounded by dark pine forest, the sinister residents of Snake River are suspicious of outsiders. Unfortunately, they also hold all the answers. On the shortest night of the year, Tuva must fight to save her friend. The only question is who will be there to save Tuva?</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My review of Black River</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black River is the third book in the Tuva Moodyson series that is set in the small, catastrophic town of Gavrik in Sweden. I'll just start by saying that I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I now feel as if I know Tuva and all the residents of Gavrik. I can clearly see the liquorice factory, feel the heat of the blistering sun as people walk down Main Street, and the scrap yards of Snake River that is truly sinister. I know this town and the people, the sights and smells. It's an all consuming, breathtaking and addictive read. I loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuva Moodyson is back in Gavrik. Her closest friend Tammy is missing, taken from her food van. Nobody knows where she is. Tuva joins forces with her previous employer, Lena, at the town's paper, putting up flyers and undertaking her own investigation. Her loyalty and love for her friend is made clearly evident. Will Dean beautifully explores the issues of female friendship and the bond that women share. What is also explored in the search for Tammy are the obvious undertones of racism that run throughout the streets of Gavrik. The fact that the residents see Tammy as an outsider, not a pure Swede, because of the colour of her skin. Although the police are investigating her disappearance, Tuva feels that they aren't really taking the case seriously and so she begins to delve deeper, her search leading to Snake River and the strange people who live there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What we get is a picture of a small town, far away from city life, and as it is Midsommar, there is distinctive shift in the air. That feeling that something bad will happen. We meet all the usual characters, those who are strange and make your skin crawl. The shoe shop guy in particular is a very strange and unsettling character. I questioned everyone that Tuva investigated. Could they be the kidnapper? There is a great sense of unease in the town that is fuelled by the stifling summer sun and the lack of darkness at night. An important question that is raised throughout the story is who can Tuva trust? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuva is such a compelling central character. A young deaf woman who is an excellent journalist and who will do anything to find her friend. That is what is at the root of this story. Friendship. It is also about the strength of women and strong female characters. Tuva is a force to be reckoned with, dismissing people's assumptions, ignorance and prejudices about her deafness, about the fact that she is a young woman who is viewed as an outsider. But the women in Gavrik support each other, especially Lena who looks after Tuva, gives her somewhere to stay and feeds her. I loved this relationship. We also have Tuva's relationship with Noora, the police woman. I found the exploration of their relationship to be both tender and insightful, helping to explore Tuva's vulnerabilities and past demons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most importantly, Black River is a fantastic read. It has a central character who we care about, and a mystery that needs to be solved. Where is Tammy? What happened to her? It's a genuinely creepy and unsettling read and Tuva's visits to Snake River creeped me out. I couldn't read fast enough. I needed to find out what had happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black River is a joy to read. It's a gripping thriller and Tuva Moodyson has now become one of my most favourite fictional characters. I must also warn you that this story will stay with you long after you have finished reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher who provided an early review copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black River is published by Point Blank/OneWorld Publications and is available to buy in ebook now and will be published in hardback on March 12th.</span><br />
<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-84738332107418120712020-02-14T06:14:00.000+00:002020-02-14T06:21:53.245+00:00#LoveBytesBack @ValleyMystery @matadorbooks<br />
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Today I have the pleasure of inviting author Angelena Boden onto the blog to celebrate the publication day of Love Bytes Back.<br />
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I first stumbled across Angelena when I read The Future Can't Wait, which I absolutely adored. You can read my review <a href="https://brewandbooksreview.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-future-cant-wait-angelenaboden.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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I then read her next book, Edna's Death Cafe, which is the first book in the Edna Reid investigation series. This book I found to be incredibly poignant, uplifting and life affirming. You can read my review <a href="https://brewandbooksreview.blogspot.com/2018/09/ednasdeathcafe-angelenaboden.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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So, when I heard that Angelena was about to release the second book in the series I was very excited. The book is released on February 14th and is published by Matador. I will be reading this very soon and sharing my thoughts with you. But in the meantime I thought I would ask Angelena about Valentine's Day and how she celebrates this special day.<br />
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Enjoy! ❤<br />
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<b><i>How do you celebrate St Valentine's Day?</i></b><br />
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Christmas is over and the shelves are filling up with Valentine cards – cute ones, funny ones, serious ones, but all with the ubiquitous red heart and saccharine-sweet messages of love.<br />
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Romantics love it, cynics hate it for its commercialism but there’s no doubt that the 700 hundred year old tradition has stood the test of time. Sales of flowers, chocolates and cuddly toys with an “I love you” tag round the neck get a special boost, and where love is concerned, money’s no object. Sorry if I sound a little cynical myself!<br />
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The origins of this day are interesting, if not a little muddy. St Valentine was a priest in Roman times who arranged secret marriages for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. He defied an order given by the Emperor Claudius to desist from his activities but he wouldn’t. As punishment he was jailed and consequently beheaded on February 14, 270 AD thereabouts.<br />
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It is believed that the martyred saint became connected to the tokens of romantic love that brought in £650 million to the UK economy in 2018.<br />
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Not every country celebrates this day or if they do, it’s in their own way. The Welsh, for example, don’t celebrate St Valentine’s Day. Instead, the men give carved love spoons to their beloved on January 25, the feast of St. Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers.<br />
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In Scotland, you can opt to be someone’s Valentine for the day and who knows where that might go.<br />
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In South Africa, women pin hearts to their sleeves, sometimes with the name of their love interest. I discovered that this is linked to an ancient roman tradition known as Lupercalia.<br />
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Brazilians go for Dia dos Namorados or “Lover’s Day” on June 12 when they exchange gifts and share dinner with lovers and friends.<br />
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A popular Valentine's Day gift in Italy is Baci Perugina -are small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped with a romantic quote.<br />
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As I walk round my town I spot the hotels and restaurants offering their Valentine Specials – romantic spa weekends, champagne suppers and walking retreats for couples. There’s no end to the imaginative ways we are encouraged to part with our money.<br />
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Here’s a personal story to make you smile. My husband and I were on holiday in Malta in February 2016. We were passing a flower cart bursting with buckets of single stem roses. I looked across at them and then at him. He’s the least romantic man on the planet. He thrust his hand in his pocket and jangled his change. ‘I suppose you want one of those,’ he said, sounding annoyed. I’ll give you three guesses as to my reply.<br />
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So, how will you celebrate Valentine’s Day 2020? May I make a suggestion?<br />
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For just £1.99, download my new e-book, “Love Bytes Back” and see how falling in love isn’t all roses. Enjoy.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About Love Bytes Back</span></b></div>
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When lonely widow Kitty Merriweather moves to Derbyshire’s Hope Valley, she joins the Silver Rose online dating site because it offers a safe place for the over sixties to find romance.<br />
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There, she meets the enigmatic Harvey, a scientist working on a conservation project in Bali who promises her “hot days and stormy nights.”<br />
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Love blooms quickly but Kitty breaks all the rules laid down by the agency, putting herself at risk. When little things don’t add up she dismisses them as being unimportant. Nothing matters more than her plans for them to live happily ever after.<br />
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When she confides in her new friend, Edna Reid, octogenarian and former café owner, Kitty gets angry at Edna’s implication she is likely the victim of a scam.<br />
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The more Edna hears about Harvey, the more she is convinced he’s only interested in Kitty for her money.<br />
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Using her knowledge of computers Edna finally uncovers the truth, but where does black magic and murder fit into this intriguing cosy mystery?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the author</b></span></div>
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Angelena has spent thirty- five years as an international training consultant and counsellor, specialising in behavioural management, communication skills and conflict resolution. She has a Masters in Social Science from Birmingham University, and diplomas in Transactional Analysis, teaching, training, coaching and mentoring. Now retired, when Angelina is not dog walking, babysitting, landscape painting or reading astrology charts for clients, she writes the “Edna Read Investigates” series of cosy crime novels, which are set in the Peak District. She is also a champion for Autumn Voices, a website dedicated to promoting creative pursuits of authors over 60.<br />
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<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-87840639602323954462020-02-04T06:44:00.000+00:002020-02-04T06:44:30.840+00:00#ADozenSecondChances @katehaswords @OneMoreChapter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAnmeyYIf789lfsRog3E3MS67kBV90EKJRbcTV98Y7WkBjfU5oz_p01W6tp7Q60vj-ZvmwvCP5OHwqhnIa72JH7qTYpbeOgaAmdDQahHSw_XIa-HkvSQop_N7OjOlzfZNyxNSALMzBGY/s1600/cover171134-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAnmeyYIf789lfsRog3E3MS67kBV90EKJRbcTV98Y7WkBjfU5oz_p01W6tp7Q60vj-ZvmwvCP5OHwqhnIa72JH7qTYpbeOgaAmdDQahHSw_XIa-HkvSQop_N7OjOlzfZNyxNSALMzBGY/s400/cover171134-medium.png" width="261" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About A Dozen Second Chances</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are the chances that twelve little tokens could change a life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seventeen years ago, Eve Roberts had the wonderful life she’d always dreamed of: a degree in archaeology, a gorgeous boyfriend, and exciting plans to travel the world with him, working on digs. But when her sister Faye died, the life Eve knew ended too. Faye’s daughter Caitlyn came to live with Eve, her boyfriend left, and she quickly gave up on her dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now approaching her fortieth birthday, Eve faces the prospect of an empty nest as Caitlyn is leaving home. Caitlyn gives Eve a set of twelve ‘Be Kind to Yourself’ vouchers, telling her that she has to start living for herself again, and that she should fill one in every time she does something to treat herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With her very first voucher, Eve’s life will change its course. But with eleven more vouchers to go, can Eve learn to put herself first and follow the dreams she’s kept secret for so long? Because life is for living – and as she well knows, it’s too short to waste even a moment…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of A Dozen Second Chances</b></span></div>
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A Dozen Second Chances is a gorgeous, heartfelt and emotional read. I loved it.<br />
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I have read, devoured and absolutely loved every Kate Field story I have ever read and A Dozen Second Chances is no exception. Written with warmth, understanding and great insight, the story of Eve and her quest for fulfilment and a second chance of living the life she has always dreamed of was an absolute delight to read. It's one of those books where you find yourself lost in the characters and the story they are living.<br />
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I adored Eve and understood her completely. She is a woman nearing middle age, who has put others before her own needs her entire life. Now that her daughter has left for university and is starting her own life, so too should Eve. What's to stop her? That's the real message at the heart of this book, that the only barrier to Eve becoming the person she wishes to be, and to live the life she has always wanted is Eve herself. So can she be brave and take those chances that she has been given? We follow Eve on this exciting journey and find out along with her.<br />
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This is a romantic read with so much heart. But it is also a book about the relationship between a mother and daughter, and of how this relationship evolves as we grow older. It's also a book about female friendship and the strength of women. Eve is a strong woman, she has had to be in her life, but she just needs a guiding hand to make her see that the life she deserves is out there for her. She just needs to grab it with both hands.<br />
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A Dozen Second Chances is a beautiful book. This romantic story is gentle and presents us with a realistic portrayal of the difficulties that are found in any relationship. The miscommunication and the difficulty in expressing our emotions and feelings. I loved the interaction between Eve and Paddy. In fact, I loved Paddy full stop.<br />
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If you're looking for a romantic read that is heartwarming, thought provoking and simply gorgeous, then you'll love A Dozen Second Chances.<br />
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A Dozen Second Chances is published on 6th Feb by Avon's One More Chapter.<br />
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With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-27390881903958034762020-02-01T14:52:00.001+00:002020-02-01T14:58:13.336+00:00#GrownUps @MarianKeyes @MichaelJBooks <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About Grown Ups</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They're a glamorous family, the Caseys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together - birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie - who has the most money - insists on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everything stays under control until Ed's wife Cara, gets concussion and can't keep her thoughts to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, starts Cara spilling out all their secrets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the subsequent unravelling, every one of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's time - finally - to grow up?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Grown Ups</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am always so excited to get my hands on a new novel by Marian Keyes as you are always guaranteed a thoroughly good read. Grown Ups is no exception. It was a pure treat to read and I was so sad to say goodbye to the Casey family at the end as they had all become such good friends to me. I felt as if I knew them, inside and out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grown Ups is essentially a book about family and family dynamics. Every family has its secrets and difficulties, but at the end of the day they are there for each other and it is so beautifully and eloquently explored in this novel. It sheds real insight into how it feels to be part of a large Irish family and the responsibilities that you may feel at being part of this group. Jessie is very much the matriarch, the woman at the helm who ensures the smooth running of this extended family. On the surface she is confident, capable and unflappable, but as we read we get to see the real Jessie and the pressures and strain she is under at running a business and family. I empathised and understood her completely. I adored this character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grown Ups is a book that tackles many serous issues, but as with every Marian Keyes novel there is also much laughter, quick wit and a thoroughly enjoyable yarn of a read. Once i started I found it incredibly hard to put this book down, as the characters got into my head and under my skin. Nell, who is very much the new member of the family, newly married to Liam, is trying to find her way in this bustling and lively family who love to do everything together. Cara also intrigued me with her straight talking nature and successful career, but like everyone else in this book, she too was harbouring a secret.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a fast paced book involving many characters, but you quickly learn who is who and simply go along with the ride, learning about each of the couples in turn and how their secrets will impact the story as a whole. It's a funny read, it's a sad read and by the end you understand the importance of family and that at the end of the day no one is perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It also asks many questions on what it actually means to be a grown up. Who knows? Do we ever really grow up or are we all just pretending and playing the game? It's such a refreshing read as it poses these questions throughout the book and makes us come to our own conclusions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grown Ups was a pure joy to read. I loved every word. I just wish that I could read it all over again for the first time. It's a heartbreaking and heartwarming read in equal measures. It's a dazzling read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grown Ups is published on 6th Feb by Penguin Michael Joseph.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-25076908678914279412020-01-26T13:32:00.000+00:002020-01-26T13:32:19.592+00:00#Adults @emjaneunsworth @BoroughPress<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About Adults</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Je</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nny is unloved, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">unemployable and emotionally unfiltered. Her long-suffering friends seem sick of her and whilst her social media portrays her life as a bed of roses, it is more of a dying succulent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adults is what you w</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ant it to be. A misadventure of maturity, a satire on our age of self-promotion, a tender look at the impossibility of womanhood, a love story, a riot. And Emma Jane Unsworth is the only voice to hear it from. Adults is excruciating, a gut punch of hilarity and a book laden with truth that you will read again and again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">My review of Adults</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adults is a huge gulp of fresh air. I absolutely ADORED this book for its honesty, its humour, its frank commentary about how we live our lives on social media and the reality of modern day relationships while trying to achieve that work life balance when we find it so difficult to switch off. This book has a LOT to say and I devoured every word. It's a thought provoking read that makes you laugh on one page and cry on the next. It's a pure delight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adults is Jenny's story and even after reading only the first few chapters i found that I had a real sense of who she was and how she lived her life. I found her to be funny, insecure, ambitious but ultimately a nice person who had made some bad decisions in her life and who was trying to find her way in the world. This book works because she has such a powerful and distinctive voice. This is her story and we stay with her every step of the way as we don't want to miss a single second.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jenny works, but this word should be used very loosely, as it is not exactly made clear to us the reader, or to Jenny herself, exactly what it is that she does for a living. Her day seems to involve posting photos on twitter and Insta, creating interesting hashtags and detailing every aspect of her life in her weekly column. But at what cost? That's the question that is being asked here. What happens when the lines between reality and online presence become blurred? What happens then? But just to add that I found her twitter posts incredibly current and funny.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then read about Jenny's relationships. Throughout the novel we read about her past experiences and present day life, so that her relationship with her mother, best friend and now ex boyfriend become perfectly clear. What we read is both funny and tragic in equal measure, and in learning about her relationships, we learn more about why Jenny relies so much on social media. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adults is such a tender, honest and heart-warming read. It really does cover every emotion. It</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is a compulsive and all consuming read. I found it hard to put down. It's hard to explain how so very important this book is for today's modern world of online profiles and trying to live that ultimately unachievable perfect life. I loved this book, I really did. And, I will never quite look at a croissant in the same way again.</span></div>
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Adults is published by The Borough Press on Jan 30th.<br />
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With thanks to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.</div>
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johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-370641558628006652020-01-21T06:27:00.000+00:002020-01-21T09:29:32.168+00:00#TheOtherPeople @cjtudor @MichaelJBooks<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">About The Other People</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Driving home one night, stuck behind a rusty old car, Gabe sees a little girl's face appear in the rear window.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She mouths one word: 'Daddy.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's his five-year-old daughter, Izzy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He never sees her again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three years later, Gabe spends his days and nights travelling up and down the motorway, searching for the car that took his daughter, refusing to give up hope, even though most people believe that Izzy is dead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fran and her daughter, Alice, also put in a lot of miles on the motorway. Not searching. But running. Trying to keep one step ahead of the people who want to hurt them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because Fran knows the truth. She knows what really happened to Gabe's daughter. She knows who is responsible. And she knows what they will do if they ever catch up with her and Alice . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">My review of The Other People</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Other People is a book that you won't be able to put down. Once you read the opening chapter you will be hooked, just like I was. Gabe is driving home when an old rusty car grabs his attention, along with the bumper stickers. Inside he sees a fleeting glimpse of a little girl, his little girl, mouthing 'Daddy', and then she is gone from view. This scene is the premise for the book. Was the little girl really Izzy? Why was she in the car? What happens is that Gabe finds himself alone in life, the victim, and his life then starts on a different path. That of the search for his daughter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I LOVED this book. Once i had finished I went back to the beginning, devouring every single word. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters, because they had sunk their hooks in to me and wouldn't let me go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ultimately I found this to be a book about a man and the love he had for his daughter. a love so fierce that he was prepared to do anything to find her against all the odds. The relationship between father and daughter is at the heart of this story. which is ultimately a dark and unsettling read. We meet Gabe at his very lowest. He is a man with no fixed address, living in a van, travelling up and down the motorway looking for his lost little girl, three years on from the event that changed his life. He is in limbo and my heart ached for him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many wonderful characters in this book. Some you may not particularly bond with, but all are relatable They get under your skin. Fran is utterly compelling and just wait until you meet the Samaritan. What I really liked was that all of these characters are troubled, they are all flawed, but all are interesting and a few you will grow to love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Other People is a book about seeking justice, protecting your family and unconditional love. It's a book about past regrets and learning to live with the past. Most importantly it is a book that is about hope and love, but be warned, The Other People will haunt you long after you have finished reading.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Other People is published on 23rd Jan.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the early review copy.</span></span><br />
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johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-36683880740161822842020-01-13T06:00:00.000+00:002020-01-13T06:36:16.315+00:00#MixTape @SandersonJane @randomhouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About Mix Tape</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You never forget the one that got away. But what if ‘what could have been’ is still to come?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daniel was the first boy to make Alison a mix tape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that was years ago and Ali hasn’t thought about him in a very long time. Even if she had, she might not have called him ‘the one that got away’; she’d been the one to run away, after all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then Dan’s name pops up on her phone, with a link to a song from their shared past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For two blissful minutes, Alison is no longer an adult in Adelaide with temperamental daughters; she is sixteen in Sheffield, dancing in her too-tight jeans. She cannot help but respond in kind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so begins a new mix tape.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ali and Dan exchange songs – some new, some old – across oceans and time zones, across a lifetime of different experiences, until one of them breaks the rules and sends a message that will change everything…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because what if ‘what could have been’ is still to come?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Mix Tape</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll just start by saying how much I enjoyed reading this book and that I was so very sad to say goodbye to these characters. I found it to be captivating, joyful, poignant and incredibly beautiful. It's a love story for our modern times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am old enough to remember mix tapes which is a central theme in this book and to relive the joy of making and sharing them. The fact that a person chooses songs and then painstakingly creates a mix tape of these chosen songs is such a beautiful thing. Songs stir up emotions while creating new ones, and this is perfectly explored in this novel. The nostalgia of music and what it means to these characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story is told from two points of view. We have Alison's story, who now lives in Australia, and Daniel's story who resides in Sheffield. A world apart but connected through the power of twitter, and so the story begins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved this story for its rawness, for its truth and because it explores how our past events shapes our future. The two central characters captivated me from the very moment I met them. Alison's vulnerability shone through, even though she is a successful author. As for Daniel, I found him to be thoroughly likable, the boy next door with a good heart. I loved them both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix Tape is a delightful read. It is full of love and hope and joy. It's about living life, taking risks and doing the right thing, even when it scares you. It's a gorgeous book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix Tape is published at the end of January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the early review copy.</span><br />
johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-90171380617859403802019-11-12T06:35:00.000+00:002019-11-12T06:50:26.191+00:00 #TheSnowKiller @greenwoodross @BoldwoodBooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About The Snow Killer</span></b></div>
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Fear the north wind. Because no one will hear you scream…’<br />
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A family is gunned down in the snow but one of the children survives. Three years on, that child takes revenge and the Snow Killer is born. But then, nothing - no further crimes are committed, and the case goes cold.<br />
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Fifty years later, has the urge to kill been reawakened? As murder follows murder, the detective team tasked with solving the crimes struggle with the lack of leads. It’s a race against time and the weather – each time it snows another person dies.<br />
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As an exhausted and grizzled DI Barton and his team scrabble to put the pieces of the puzzle together, the killer is hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, the murders continue…<br />
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The first in a new series, Ross Greenwood has written a cracking, crackling crime story with a twist in its tale which will surprise even the most hardened thriller readers. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Stuart MacBride.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My review of The Snow Killer</span></b></div>
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The Snow Killer is a fast paced, captivating and thoroughly enjoyable police thriller. I devoured this book in a few short sittings, as I could not put it down. Full of twists and turns, characters you actually care about and a killer who is genuinely chilling, I loved every aspect of this book.<br />
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I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this book just screamed out to be picked up and read, and I'm so glad I did.<br />
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The opening chapters transport us back fifty years. A family is murdered in the winter, on snow covered ground, in cold blood, with only one child surviving. These early chapters are harrowing, haunting, stark and set the scene for what is about to come. We need this information to process what happens later on in the story. It helps us to understand why the killer makes certain decisions and why they choose to kill. This adds great depth and understanding to the story. It's a police thriller with a concience. A tale of morality and that we are all driven by our past.<br />
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Leading the investigation is DI John Barton. A detective for our troubled modern times, and I really liked him. I actually found him to be a breath of fresh air. A family man, middle aged, married, and who does not have a drink or drug problem. I actually wondered what his vice was, but as am yet to find out. He's a reliable, stoical and hard-working detective who wants to catch the bad guy. But it was interesting to see how he balanced his work life with his personal life. A gentle giant who you can't help but like and admire.<br />
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The Snow Killer is a ripping good yarn. It's a gripping read and ticks all the boxes. A killer with a complex past and personality. A plot with so many twists and turns it gives you whiplash and a leading detective who you care deeply about. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the second instalment in the series. Bring it on!<br />
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With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.<br />
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The Snow Killer is published by Boldwood Books on 12th November.johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-5615797724584956052019-10-30T06:40:00.000+00:002019-10-30T08:28:11.992+00:00#TheSix @LucaVeste @simonschusterUK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LrfiW-vcOPjt_gzt1om8_sOkHg2Q8jUPHWAK8zI5dqqnoTQzBz9tdXGeLKWMjf1et-tcFYMdFu8w8416Xmuh0qk_4UwAIxxdWbANn4uoQigE3pAV1tWbDeNnjMMDKasTDDCn-1exQ8g/s1600/cover172021-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LrfiW-vcOPjt_gzt1om8_sOkHg2Q8jUPHWAK8zI5dqqnoTQzBz9tdXGeLKWMjf1et-tcFYMdFu8w8416Xmuh0qk_4UwAIxxdWbANn4uoQigE3pAV1tWbDeNnjMMDKasTDDCn-1exQ8g/s400/cover172021-medium.png" width="262" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About The Six</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The brilliant new novel from the author of the highly acclaimed The Bone Keeper.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Six friends trapped by one dark secret.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was supposed to be our last weekend away as friends, before marriage and respectability beckoned. But what happened that Saturday changed everything.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the middle of the night, someone died. The six of us promised each other we would not tell anyone about the body we buried.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But now the pact has been broken. And the killing has started again...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who knows what we did? And what price will we pay?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQCwwKqrQ36SjKLgv4ZGW9kRc0XEJlv_uYCkIKDozD-54ie4nFz6J-KSVzJaaui1yZpOlo8MsJAyUUvdgQJEyBotgzifjLbdfD5ThbZjG5-qQTpbQdJcarxmb8wmzyZpA3OugfGK-qGM/s1600/cover172021-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQCwwKqrQ36SjKLgv4ZGW9kRc0XEJlv_uYCkIKDozD-54ie4nFz6J-KSVzJaaui1yZpOlo8MsJAyUUvdgQJEyBotgzifjLbdfD5ThbZjG5-qQTpbQdJcarxmb8wmzyZpA3OugfGK-qGM/s320/cover172021-medium.png" width="210" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>My review of The Six</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Six is a serial killer thriller that hooked me from the very beginning. It's a story about friendship, about loyalty and deadly secrets. It's shocking, fast paced and has an ending that I simply didn't see coming. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Six is about a group of six friends, three couples, who are all approaching their thirtieth birthdays. T</span>old from Matt's point of view, we are introduced to his girlfriend and four friends as they enjoy a festival weekend together, the last one before they all plan to settle down. But something goes terribly wrong, a man dies. What happens is truly horrific, but this one brutal act is what unites them all, and which sets in motion the events that then happen in the rest of the book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This story is full of twists and turns that had me guessing what would happen next. And, in most cases I got it completely wrong. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough in my quest to find out the truth. There are many secrets and truths to be unearthed, some of which shocked me and made me question who was telling the truth. Who could I trust?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This book was a joy to read, not only because of the high adrenaline plot, but also because of the many different characters who had their own story to telll. I warmed instantly to Matt, perhaps because the story was mainly told from his point of view. But, I did understand him and the decisions that he made. I believed in him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Six is a serial killer thriller unlike any I have read before. Highly original, you'll read it at break neck speed. It's that good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Six is published on 26th December by </span>Simon & Schuster </span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-40628573979542770752019-10-27T06:45:00.001+00:002019-10-27T06:45:27.037+00:00#StarveAcre #AndrewMichaelHurley @JohnMurray<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About Starve Acre</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The worst thing possible has happened. Richard and Juliette Willoughby's son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five. Starve Acre, their house by the moors, was to be full of life, but is now a haunted place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Juliette, convinced Ewan still lives there in some form, seeks the help of the Beacons, a seemingly benevolent group of occultists. Richard, to try and keep the boy out of his mind, has turned his attention to the field opposite the house, where he patiently digs the barren dirt in search of a legendary oak tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starve Acre is a devastating new novel by the author of the prize-winning bestseller The Loney. It is a novel about the way in which grief splits the world in two and how, in searching for hope, we can so easily unearth horror.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Starve Acre</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll just start by highlighting the stunning artwork of this hardback copy. The image of an old tree that has a rope tied into a loose noose hanging from one of its branches sets the tone even before you read the first sentence. This is a story about grief, about a family ripped apart, of words unsaid , all of which are played out upon the bleak backdrop of Starve Acre. It's a haunting, beautiful and deeply disturbing read. It's a story that I won't forget any time soon, as it seeped into my bones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starve Acre is an unsettling, honest and haunting read about how a couple deal with the death of a child. I could feel their grief, even taste it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Richard and </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Juliette</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> moved to Starve Acre, the home where Richard's mother and father had lived, from their home in inner city Leeds to build a new life for themselves, a safe haven in the countryside to raise a family. When they have Ewan, they allow him to play in the field of Starve Acre. He enjoys being outdoors, in the soil, with nature, but as we read about past events, as we make our way through the movel, strange things happen, and not everything is as it seems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starve Acre is a story about how a married couple struggle to come to terms with the death of their son. Richard divided his time between focusing on his research, hiding away in the study, and digging in the field of Starve Acre. Unearthing soil in his quest to find evidence of the old oak tree. We then have </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Juliette, who believes that swan i</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">s in the house, that he talks to her. We watch a young woman unravelling, and it's both uncomfortable and heartbreaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We read a story rooted in reality that then slowly reveals itself to be something totally unexpected. It's eerie, it's haunting and shocking. It's a compulsive read that draws you in with characters that are believable and who you begin to care about deeply. And I know that I will never forget that final page. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7a_QC2gqdMgDyUEB985_gBFHoMm4AzSa2aXWX1S3AzOZd6O71TwVOG7KOGz2FVMx4Qc2kHoP-rJJP_tJNTD0zesc9xkl3y0pkJU1cE5tr86sNtiDlhJR05rs7JC2yhFN9sj_4learv0/s1600/IMG_20191027_061127982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7a_QC2gqdMgDyUEB985_gBFHoMm4AzSa2aXWX1S3AzOZd6O71TwVOG7KOGz2FVMx4Qc2kHoP-rJJP_tJNTD0zesc9xkl3y0pkJU1cE5tr86sNtiDlhJR05rs7JC2yhFN9sj_4learv0/s320/IMG_20191027_061127982.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for the advanced hardback copy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starve Acre is published on </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">31st October by John Murray.</span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-23579907501233192122019-10-17T07:58:00.000+01:002019-10-17T07:58:50.908+01:00#LetItSnow @SueMoorcroft @AvonBooksUK<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusYHCduXdoPGbJLlqAkLkT6w8uWxajxTACW1UH74ZRCKgfK11Wu3jTKvw0hjhr2UTDYq-vQ7FxdwI1HGNOnB6_l8ZU23Dp8WdaqmJepourld9e2_hyeHHeaxGyYXMPn5Y2nAhGY9ZMGw/s1600/cover162250-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusYHCduXdoPGbJLlqAkLkT6w8uWxajxTACW1UH74ZRCKgfK11Wu3jTKvw0hjhr2UTDYq-vQ7FxdwI1HGNOnB6_l8ZU23Dp8WdaqmJepourld9e2_hyeHHeaxGyYXMPn5Y2nAhGY9ZMGw/s400/cover162250-medium.png" width="263" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About Let it Snow </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Christmas, the villagers of Middledip are off on a very Swiss adventure…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Family means everything to Lily Cortez and her sister Zinnia, and growing up in their non-conventional family unit, they and their two mums couldn’t have been closer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So it’s a bolt out of the blue when Lily finds her father wasn’t the anonymous one-night stand she’d always believed – and is in fact the result of her mum's reckless affair with a married man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Confused, but determined to discover her true roots, Lily sets out to find the family she’s never known; an adventure that takes her from the frosted, thatched cottages of Middledip to the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, via a memorable romantic encounter along the way…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>My review of Let it Snow</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let it Snow is a book filled with warmth and joy. </span> It's a story about finding your place in the world, the importance of family and that you often find romance when you least expect it. I loved every page.<br />
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We follow Lily on her journey to <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Middledip, in her search for the family she never knew she had. What unfolds is a story of self-discovery, and one in which new friendships are formed as she travels to snowy Switzerland. It's a pure delight to read as we are with her every step of the way. She is also such a likeable character that we want her to find the answers that she so desperately needs and to be happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sue Moorcroft writes engaging heart-warming stories with a romantic element at their very core, and Let it Snow is no exception. We meet Isaac very early on and watch how he interacts with Lily behind the bar in the village pub. He too is an interesting characfer, chasing his own demons, very much like Lily. I wanted to know so much more about him, his past and if the two of them could heal each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Let it Snow really is the perfect Christmas read. It's a warm hug of a book that makes everything feel ok. A much needed spark of joy when it's dark outside in these troubled and unsettling times. Highly recommended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let it Snow is published by Avon and is available to buy now.</span><br />
<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-46800243782483062012019-10-11T07:46:00.000+01:002019-10-11T07:56:53.858+01:00#SoLucky @hotpatooties @HarperCollinsUK<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About So Lucky</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IS ANYONE’S LIFE . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Beth</strong> shows that women really can have it all.<br /><strong>Ruby</strong> lives life by her own rules.<br />And then there’s<strong> Lauren</strong>, living the dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?<br /><br /><strong>Beth</strong> hasn’t had sex in a year.<br /><strong>Ruby</strong> feels like she’s failing.<br /><strong>Lauren</strong>’s happiness is fake news.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Fearless, frank and for everyone who’s ever doubted themselves,<em> So Lucky</em> is the straight-talking new novel from the <em>Sunday Times</em> bestseller.</strong><br /><br />Actually, you’re pretty f****** lucky to be <strong>you</strong>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27T43A7QEDp7LA_HtfDZ6wcsSQRGFkVWrGkscj2-NIHhW9V5Z7EgHXxM2p-CoisEgCQBvF7g1sb5TzhwlTEDCSQaqkSKVlDm879z31lQwqWWUmVpZ_75UKcuSia1byvhyYfYYwH33eyY/s1600/cover165398-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27T43A7QEDp7LA_HtfDZ6wcsSQRGFkVWrGkscj2-NIHhW9V5Z7EgHXxM2p-CoisEgCQBvF7g1sb5TzhwlTEDCSQaqkSKVlDm879z31lQwqWWUmVpZ_75UKcuSia1byvhyYfYYwH33eyY/s320/cover165398-medium.png" width="221" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of So Lucky</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh where do I start with this fabulously honest and emotional book. I absolutely loved it. It made me laugh, it made me cry at times and it had me nodding my head, saying, 'oh my god, yes, that is so true'. It's a breath of fresh air with its straight talking and down to earth characters. I didn't want to put this book down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We meet three very different women in this sfory, but what becomes very clear is that they are all living a very different life to the one that is shown on the surface. The powerful message here is that we shouldn't judge a woman by her cover, and this is such a strong and empowering message for everyone. Those outward appearances can be so very deceptive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All three women I found to be incredibly likeable and engaging. All of their stories rang so very true. They spoke of the insecurities that they felt, some to do with their physical appearance, their role in life as a mother, relationship difficulties, juggling motherhood with a career and how the image we present of ourselves on social media may not be true at all. It's a thought provoking read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Lucky really is a heart -warning story about female friendship and support. It explores mental health issues related to body image, sexuality and social media AND I loved it for its honesty and rawness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Lucky is a book that will resonate with so many women. It's about those insecurities that we all have, but the overall message is one of hope and love. This is a very special book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So Lucky is published by Harper Collins</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On 31st October.</span></div>
johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-71132398181991557632019-10-07T06:13:00.000+01:002019-10-07T06:20:21.428+01:00#ADeathlySilence @JaneIsaacAuthor @Legend_Press<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: none;">
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About A Deathly Silence</span></b></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the</span></b><b style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> mutilated body of a police officer is found in a derelict factory, the Hamptonshire police force is shocked to the core.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DCI Helen Lavery returns from injury leave and is immediately plunged into an investigation like no other. Is this a random attack or is someone targeting the force? Organised crime groups or a lone killer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the net draws in, Helen finds the truth lies closer than she could have imagined, and trusts no one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But Helen is facing a twisted killer who will stop at nothing to ensure their secrets remain hidden. And time is running out...</span><br />
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A gripping thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, S.J. Watson, B A Paris and Sophie Hannah</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><b>My review of A Deathly Silence</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ffvL3itJlCnm6P_TGchPA7xDfUufwYunMTLg3_euuSehmuMePlu41jz1-abygSYVBvOOiOkBFGb3j5xzCo5lLsW32n4LliTUAzJ9nQVyOCvelFbRAfI9PFCLBMw1qiuYyl6Qn8iFtts/s1600/cover174280-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ffvL3itJlCnm6P_TGchPA7xDfUufwYunMTLg3_euuSehmuMePlu41jz1-abygSYVBvOOiOkBFGb3j5xzCo5lLsW32n4LliTUAzJ9nQVyOCvelFbRAfI9PFCLBMw1qiuYyl6Qn8iFtts/s320/cover174280-medium.png" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Deathly Silence is a gripping, thrilling and emotional read that I simply could not put down. This story about a young policewoman who is brutally murdered, a mother to two young children, really got under my skin. I had to find out why she had been killed and who had killed her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leading the investigation is DCI Helen Lavery, who has recently come back from leave following a traumatic case. From the moment I met Helen, I liked her. A working mum, a detective who is trying to keep her personal and professional lives separate, as she is trying to protect her two teenage boys from the gritty realities of a murder investigation. I liked her for her rawness, for her vulnerability and the fact that she wasn't afraid to show this side of her character. A</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s we follow Helen through her thought processes and proceedures, we see the investigation through her eyes and the determination she has to catch the killer.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a story about a brutal murder told with a pace that doesn't let up. There are so many cliff hangers, red herrings and twists and turns that I had no clue as to who the murderer was. There is also so much attention to police proceedure in this book, that the investigation felt authentic and shockingly real. Combine this with characters who fully engage the mind and soul and you have one cracking read. </span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Deathly Silence is an unsetllling, dark and emotional read. It's full of characters that you can't help but care about, a story that holds your attention from the very beginning and an ending that both shocked and unsettled me. It's a fabulous read and a story that will haunt me for a very long time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Deathly Silence is published on 15th October by Legend Press </span></div>
johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-4673378760156137242019-09-30T06:24:00.000+01:002019-09-30T06:40:27.469+01:00#OneWinterMorning @Isabelle_Broom @MichaelJBooks<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About One Winter Morning </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genie isn't feeling very festive this December.
The frosty mornings and twinkling fairy lights only remind her it's been a whole year since she lost her adoptive mother, who took her in as a baby and raised her as her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he's never felt more alone - until she discovers her birth mother's identity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And where to find her: New Zealand, half the world away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Travelling there could be her one chance to meet the woman who gave her up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But will she find the answers she has been looking for? Or something she could never have expected? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> One Winter Morning is a heart-warming, moving and life-affirming story for fans of Hannah Beckerman, Lucy Diamond and Paige Toon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of One Winter Morning</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L4S-010kdZmBdQqKtR6ldra5iNnP2-BAXHj9FKSSA9BXb5TaVoxFZjtWzIIlpSESS6DJ9YwmgieKf8t8OCuuIoKNgrPmkAZ7ClD0GfNaVZnf0W-7IfNZapNjx1B7uZL1pIDIHCCp0zw/s1600/cover169516-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L4S-010kdZmBdQqKtR6ldra5iNnP2-BAXHj9FKSSA9BXb5TaVoxFZjtWzIIlpSESS6DJ9YwmgieKf8t8OCuuIoKNgrPmkAZ7ClD0GfNaVZnf0W-7IfNZapNjx1B7uZL1pIDIHCCp0zw/s320/cover169516-medium.png" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One Winter Morning is a book about love, loss, the importance of family and that everyone is deserving of happiness. This book is filled with so much warmth and heart and humour, that I couldn't help but love it. Such a joy to read. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One Winter Morning tackles difficult subjects, such as bereavement and depression, with great sensitivity and insight. Genie is a young woman who is struggling with life, stuck in a type of limbo, not quite sure of where to go or what to do. It's her father who gives her the push and encouragement she needs to explore the world, to search for her birth mother and to forge a new life for herself. Genie is such an interesting character and I warmed to her immediately. I wanted her to be happy, to have a happy life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also get to travel to New Zealand and explore its people, culture and stunning scenery. This aspect of the book was beautifully done. I now feel as if I know New Zealand, and the allure it held for Genie. Of course, she travels their to find her birth mother, Bonnie, but as in all great fiction, nothing ever goes to plan, and as a result we read an absorbing and hugely enjoyable story with so much heart and emotion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One Winter Morning is such an emotional read. I felt as if I really knew Bonnie and Genie by the end of the book. They had become good friends to me and I didn't want to let them go. Such a joyful book that is full of hope. I loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One Winter Morning is published by Michael Joseph on 1</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7th October. </span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-39124932543742700522019-09-25T06:22:00.000+01:002019-09-25T06:22:51.152+01:00#Postscript @Cecelia_Ahern @fictionpubteam <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DofL6rNElOhBsPthgsGpvpG09y4Lwl6gaUh3u5boPiRbZEzfpOrtBbLaP-wrcGXplJkYAOixZ7d7RWrYKldFGyYjOF7CLwHwnU-EWPvtloXfLsKB8PDMXsc6D38uT7uq-qvbip5OHJ4/s1600/cover162254-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DofL6rNElOhBsPthgsGpvpG09y4Lwl6gaUh3u5boPiRbZEzfpOrtBbLaP-wrcGXplJkYAOixZ7d7RWrYKldFGyYjOF7CLwHwnU-EWPvtloXfLsKB8PDMXsc6D38uT7uq-qvbip5OHJ4/s320/cover162254-medium.png" width="215" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About Postscript</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling PS, I Love You</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband died – six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reluctantly, Holly beings a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My review of Postscript</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh where on earth do I start with this beautifully emotive and sensitively written book? It's stunning. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me want to stop time and to be thankful for the people in my life. It made me think about the people I have lost. Holly's story had a deep and resonating impact upon me, and I loved it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We meet Holly seven years after Gerry's passing. It was so lovely to be in her company again. It was like being reunited with an old friend. We find that life has moved on, that Holly now works with her sister and is in a relationship with a good man, Gabriel. But has she really moved on? It's when Holly is introduced to the PS I Love You Club that old wounds are reopened and Holly begins to examine her life, her future and if helping the members of the club will heal or destroy her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Postscript is a highly emotional read. It deals with death and terminal illness in a sensitive and empathetic manner. But it's important to add that there is humour in this book. You can't have shade without light, and this is the balance that is struck so beautifully in this book. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. It makes you value life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Holly's story is very much about moving on. About being brave and striving for a future that is unknown, but which is one of your own choosing. Life isn't static, it is ever moving. We read Holly's thoughts and feelings, in that she doesn't want to forget Gerry, the man she loved from age fourteen, and I completely understood this. She wants his memory to live on. She doesn't want to forget him. But can she do so while forging her own path in life? One that takes her further away from him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thoroughly enjoyed this story of love, friendship and the fact that people come together in times of adversity to support and nurture each other. It's a beautiful story about bereavement and hope and a future that is uncertain for us all. I loved it very much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy for review purposes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Postscript is published by Harper Collins and is available now. </span></div>
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johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-40289105299371402612019-09-23T05:55:00.000+01:002019-09-23T06:26:08.556+01:00#IWillMakeYouPay @TeresaDriscoll @AmazonPub<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Will Make You Pay</b></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every Wednesday, like clockwork, the terror returns.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat. Journalist Alice Henderson hangs up, ready to dismiss it as a hoax against the newspaper. But the next Wednesday, the stalker makes another move—and it becomes clear that this is all about Alice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone wants her to suffer, but for what? Her articles have made her a popular local champion—could it be her past rather than her work that’s put her life in danger? Alice is determined not to give in to fear, but with the police investigation at a dead end, her boyfriend insists on hiring private investigator Matthew Hill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With every Wednesday the warnings escalate, until it’s not only Alice but also her family in the stalker’s sights. As her tormentor closes in, can Alice uncover what she’s being punished for before the terrifying threats become an unthinkable reality?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review Of I Will Make You Pay</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I Will Make You Pay is an addictive psychological thriller that I didn't want to put down. The story revolves around journalist, Alice Henderson, and a threatening phone call at the news desk that sets in motion an unsettling and gripping story. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who is the mysterious caller? What is the significance of Wednesday? These are the big questions I asked myself while immersed in this fascinating and dark tale. Another big question was that of it the threats were related to her past, of which we learn about as we progress through the book, or if the motive is a more recent one, that is linked to her journalist work in the local community? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really liked Alice and empathised completely with her situation. I had a huge respect for the decisions she made under such difficult circumstances. I also.wondered why she was being targeted? Who could hate her so much? I also.found the scenes between Alice and her mother particularly poignant. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then have Matthew Hill, the private investigator who is brought in by Alice's boyfriend to try and solve the mystery. Matthew is a wonderful character, with so much heart that I was genuinely worried for him, hoping that he wouldn't get huft. His own backstory is also insightful and engaging.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">l Will.Make You Pay is an unsettling, dark and disturbing resd. It tackles serious issues that really make you think about how someone's past affects their future. But hosting all it is a riveting read. I wanted to find out why Alice was being targeted and who was behind it all. It really is a compulsive read and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I Will Make You Pay is published on 10th October by Thomas and Mercer Amazon Pub. </span></div>
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<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-34405051480882907662019-09-15T06:57:00.000+01:002019-09-15T06:57:07.436+01:00#TheGiverOfStars @jojomoyes @MichaelJBooks<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About The Giver of Stars </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alice had come halfway across the world to find that, yet again, she was considered wanting. Well, she thought, if that was what everyone thought, she might as well live up to it.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">England, late 1930s, and Alice Wright - restless, stifled - makes an impulsive decision to marry wealthy American Bennett van Cleve and leave her home and family behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But stuffy, disapproving Baileyville, Kentucky, where her husband favours work over his wife, and is dominated by his overbearing father, is not the adventure - or the escape - that she hoped for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is, until she meets Margery O'Hare - daughter of a notorious felon and a troublesome woman the town wishes to forget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Margery's on a mission to spread the wonder of books and reading to the poor and lost - and she needs Alice's help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trekking alone under big open skies, through wild mountain forests, Alice, Margery and their fellow sisters of the trail discover freedom, friendship - and a life to call their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But when Baileyville turns against them, will their belief in one another - and the power of the written word - be enough to save them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver of Stars features five incredible women who will prove to be every bit as beloved as Lou Clark, the unforgettable heroine of Me Before You.</span><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My review of The Giver of Stars </span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved, LOVED this book so much. I can't stop thinking about this story, about these five courageous women and the story they had to tell. I didn't want to say goodbye to them or to the 1930s backdrop of Baileyville, Kentucky. What an absolutely stunning, absorbing and emotional story. I can't praise it highly enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Set in 1937 after the Great Depression, we read about the first travelling librarians, who deliver books and magazines to the rural community, who would otherwise never receive such reading material, other than the Bible. The story was inspired by the real life Pack Horse Librarians of Virginia, all women who dedicated their time to delivering books via horseback up and down the mountains. The story involves a group of women, all from different backgrounds, but whom all want to educate and bring the community together. It's a book about women empowering other women, standing up for their rights and for each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have Margery O'Hare, a woman who is fiercely independent and who sets up the library. She does exactly what she wants and does not conform to society's rules or expectations, and I loved her for this. I especially enjoyed her interactions with Sven, (we all need a Sven in our lives). We also have Alice van Cleve, a newly married woman who has left England to start a new life with Bennett, her American husband, but her life doesn't turn out as she expected and her only comfort and stability is to be found in the library and the women she meets there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Giver of Stars is beautifully written. The characters come to life on the page, and I had a real sense offense it must be like to live in this claustrophobic society. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a story about how women support other women. About friendship and love and doing the right thing. It's a story with so much heart and feeling and with characters that you just can't help falling in love with. It's about prejudices formed and broken and that wit the right support system you can overcome any obstacle. I loved this story and it's one I will read again and again. All the stars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Giver of Stars is published by Michael Joseph on 3rd October.</span><br />
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johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-65424682993966149882019-09-11T07:48:00.000+01:002019-09-11T07:55:06.598+01:00BeforeTheCoffeeGetsCold #ToshikazuKawaguchi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About Before the Coffee Gets Cold</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story – translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot – explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For fans of The Guest Cat and If Cats Disappeared from the World, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a touching story about second chances and how we find and lose the ones we love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Before the Coffee Gets Cold</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a beautifully written book about love, loss and second chances. I loved every page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I found out that this was a book about time travel set in a coffee shop, well, I just knew that I had to read it. What lured me in was the notion of having one last chance to see a loved one again. The lover who got away, or a loved one who died too young. Who wouldn't grab this chance if it was offered to them? And this is what makes the book work. The fairytale becomes reality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each of the four stories are told as a kind of parable. Each has its own distinct meaning and message that we take away with us. The story about a wife revisiting the cafe to meet her husband before his Alzheimer's diagnosis was particularly touching. We meet all of these four characters, all of them are reoccurring characters, as they are all frequent visitors to this small cafe in Tokyo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the Coffee Gets Cold is an emotive read. It makes you question your own life and the people in it. It makes you question, and then appreciate what is really important in life. It's a breath of fresh air and it's one of those books that I will read again and again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the Coffee Gets Cold is published by Picador on 19th September</span></div>
<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-51449871959402991222019-09-09T06:13:00.000+01:002019-09-09T06:13:32.500+01:00#EdenInterrupted @BevHarvey_ #BookReview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About Eden Interrupted </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">90s popstar Ben Wilde and his </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lisa befriends neighbour Rosemary, who is also home alone while husband Nigel travels for work. But will the women's grim suspicions be confirmed, or does absence make the heart grow paranoid?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the village, Eden Hill's coffee shop is under new management with the arrival of divorced Mum, Chloe, and troubled teen son, Jake. But serving flat whites leaves Chloe feeling, well, flat until she meets Caleb, a widowed father of two; if only Jake and Caleb weren't at loggerheads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">New to Eden Hill are Jan and Martin Bevan, but a frosty reception leaves them wondering if they've made a huge mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the writer of Seeking Eden, Eden Interrupted is another sizzling slice-of-life drama where paths (and swords) cross, and misunderstandings abound. Perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson and Marian Keyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Eden Interrupted</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eden Interrupted is the much anticipated follow up to Seeking Eden and I loved it. Once again we are introduced to some wonderful, colourful characters (some old, some new) and their ever complicated lives. It was a pure joy to read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking place over a year, the story is told from each family's point of view. At first these seem to be isolated stories, but what soon become clear is that these stories are all interlinked. And what we read is both heart-warming and shocking. It's very clever storytelling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I also enjoyed about this book was that each family had their own distinct voice and way of talking to you, reeling you in and making you want to turn the pages faster until yo</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">u unearth the truth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of the characters intrigued me. Some made my blood boil, while others I just wanted to hug. For me, the character I found most interesting was Chloe, one of the newcomers. Single mum to teenager Jake, she moved to Eden Hill for a fresh start and to set up her dream cafe. But was it all worth the effort? Will their lives be any better? This is what I needed to find out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a book that reads like a soap opera and it's packed with every emotion. But what Ms Harvey has managed to do so effortlessly, and beautifully, is to tackle some serious topics in her writing such as dementia and depression. It's a book with so much heart and depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eden Interrupted is a book about community and friendship, which I think is so important to read about in our troubled times. It highlights the fact that we are all social beings and that we need each other. A fantastic read which I heartily recommend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I purchased my own copy.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eden Interrupted is published by Urbane Publications and is available to buy now. </span><br />
<br />johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-72119457650366317282019-08-22T12:48:00.000+01:002019-08-22T12:56:36.413+01:00#Rewind @cathryanhoward @CorvusBooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP_AwByAbbGJBKyuAbtQ8tIs-nHAfVy2pcGXqZT3mK9IAP4BS5NDAlymUi5LWpsABFDHtSYb1TobQGCLarYvx6kAPaXFlY2O0dihFapGWlUi4utcIe77EqwsSknn_OxjCBEPxUFKHqc4/s1600/51y0ANuWtmL._SX323_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP_AwByAbbGJBKyuAbtQ8tIs-nHAfVy2pcGXqZT3mK9IAP4BS5NDAlymUi5LWpsABFDHtSYb1TobQGCLarYvx6kAPaXFlY2O0dihFapGWlUi4utcIe77EqwsSknn_OxjCBEPxUFKHqc4/s400/51y0ANuWtmL._SX323_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">About Rewind</span></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the bestselling, multiple prize-shortlisted novelist Catherine Ryan Howard comes an explosive story about a twisted voyeur and a terrible crime... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PLAY </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andrew, the manager of Shanamore Holiday Cottages, watches his only guest via a hidden camera in her room. One night the unthinkable happens: a shadowy figure emerges onscreen, kills her and destroys the camera. But who is the murderer? How did they know about the camera? And how will Andrew live with himself? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Natalie wishes she'd stayed at home as soon as she arrives in the wintry isolation of Shanamore. There's something creepy about the manager. She wants to leave, but she can't - not until she's found what she's looking for...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">REWIND </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is an explosive story about a murder caught on camera. You've already missed the start. To get the full picture you must rewind the tape and play it through to the end, no matter how shocking...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Rewind</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll just start by saying that this book was an absolute treat to read from start to end. It's one of those books that simply hooks you in from the very beginning and won't let you go until the final page it's a hugely entertaining, shocking and disturbing thriller.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a highly original novel that is told from multiple points of view, and through different timelines, there is no chronological time order to the writing, as the book is segmented into Fast Forward, Play, Pause and Rewind chapters which help to propel the story along, while adding a sense of unease and urgency to the writing. It's such a clever concept, in that we are fed pieces of information that we have to put together to work out exactly what happened to Natalie in that holiday cottage </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We begin the story at the end . As we see through the eyes of Andrew, the manager of the holiday cottages, the video tape of a young woman who is murdered as she lies in bed. This conjures up many questions. Who is this woman? Why has she been killed? And why has Andrew placed a camera in the bedroom? This begins the tale of unearthing the truth and introduces us to some colourful and intriguing characters. The wanna be reporter, Audrey (who I loved), Natalie the Instagram star, and Andrew, the creepy manager. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This novel is so cleverly plotted and we are drawn into a secluded and claustrophobic world that is Shanamore. I could taste the salt of the sea, envisage the desolate beach of winter, and the remoteness of the holiday cottages. It helped to set the scene for what was a deeply unsettling story that had me on the edge of my seat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rewind is an original, addictive and immersing read. Highly recommended. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rewind is available to buy now. It is published by Corvus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to Readers First who provided the hardback copy. </span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-18883848090427195652019-08-21T08:41:00.001+01:002019-08-21T08:41:44.253+01:00#TheMemoryTree #LindaGillard @AmazonPub <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedmQ-d-yyN0tysOfXymb68znfx-cWvgjlwS-yYrorZzh4c99o-aB1W47K5X8RTeE_1PNmjUdoqfzvcVDZrChdRlSdm9K6HSgTgekpk3QG2-sO7ZQlvm893bAvvZ1Ge-p-tfaNj3chWsM/s1600/51egKYTEPaL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedmQ-d-yyN0tysOfXymb68znfx-cWvgjlwS-yYrorZzh4c99o-aB1W47K5X8RTeE_1PNmjUdoqfzvcVDZrChdRlSdm9K6HSgTgekpk3QG2-sO7ZQlvm893bAvvZ1Ge-p-tfaNj3chWsM/s400/51egKYTEPaL._SY346_.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About The Memory Tree </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can the power of love overcome life’s darkest memories and deepest losses?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When her favourite beech tree is felled in a storm, Ann feels as if someone has died. But when long-hidden seed packets are found inside the trunk, Ann realises there are more memories than her own lurking within the ancient tree . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A century earlier, head gardener William Hatherwick and Hester Mordaunt, mistress of Beechgrave, share a love for the mighty estate – and an undeclared love for each other. But when war breaks out, William is sent to the battlefields of France, and as the conflict rages on, Hester grieves beneath the tree. Can she and William ever find happiness once he’s witnessed the horror of the trenches?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the present day, historian Connor Grenville wants to understand why his late grandmother tried to destroy Hester’s archive before she died. Who was she trying to protect – and why? His findings bring long-suppressed memories back to Ann’s mind . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beneath the shadow of the tree, love is won and lost, and secrets are hidden and revealed. Will the truth heal the wounds that lie buried in the past?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revised edition: Previously published as The Trysting Tree, this edition of The Memory Tree includes editorial revisions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of The Memory Tree </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I read The Trysting Tree back in September 2017. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do I find the words to describe this beautiful book? I honestly don't think that I can do this book the justice it deserves, but I'll do my very best. The Memory Tree is a nostalgic, romantic, and emotional read rooted firmly in reality. It is quite simply breathtaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story is told both in the present day, 2015, and during the First World War in the year 1915. The storytelling is lyrical, almost poetic at times, especially in the letters that are revealed and from the beech trees in the wood where all of the characters lived. There is such an honest and raw quality to the writing, which is a constant theme throughout Linda Gillard's novels. I first fell in love with her writing having read Star Gazing, that was then shortly followed by the devouring of Emotional Geology. In each and every book we have female characters that are utterly believable and who I can relate to, and this book is no exception.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The novel really helps to shed light on the emotional impact of war, and how it altered the women who were left behind. We hear Hester's views via her journal entries, and although from over one hundred years ago, the fact that we are reading her views in this format, made them appear very relevant and modern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relationships are at the heart of this novel. We have the relationship between mother and daughter, both past and present. The relationship between Ann, and her mother Phoebe, is incredibly poignant. Phoebe is a woman who has struggled with motherhood, who says she is not maternal, but there is a warmth to her, and a likeability, that I couldn't shrug off. Deeply flawed, yes, but realistic, I couldn't help but like her. We also have the romantic relationships, both past and present, and although a hundred years apart, share similarities. Both encounters were a joy to read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The house and wood are pivotal to this story, as is the garden, for both stories. The imagery that is conveyed on the page is just magical and whimsical and echoes the romantic and nostalgic mood that has been created. The beech trees even have their own voice, and their message at the end of the book nearly made me weep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Memory Tee is such a beautiful and moving book about love, family and the devestaing events of war. It really is a must read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Memory Tree was published by Amazon's Lake Union on 15th August. </span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-37681087425933851172019-08-20T07:21:00.000+01:002019-08-20T07:21:48.228+01:00#DateNight @samhayes @bookouture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9b37tjKFlE7vg2aj3rw99xeuVWMKq2vDioZvvbInkyCAtM-fOos1DUE4VDJOgVNrFmKmEUkPQJyvJZ5xZQShBJa-7d_KtGM7xsALEAw5W9Ta6rPPDagnFr3S-xmhrxkbz5PkbL82QT0/s1600/cover169831-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9b37tjKFlE7vg2aj3rw99xeuVWMKq2vDioZvvbInkyCAtM-fOos1DUE4VDJOgVNrFmKmEUkPQJyvJZ5xZQShBJa-7d_KtGM7xsALEAw5W9Ta6rPPDagnFr3S-xmhrxkbz5PkbL82QT0/s400/cover169831-medium.png" width="261" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About Date Night </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Returning early from a disastrous date night with my husband, I know something is wrong the moment the wheels crunch the gravel drive of our home. Inside, the TV is on and a half-eaten meal waits on the table. My heart stops when I find our little girl is alone in the house and our babysitter, Sasha, is missing…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Days later, when I’m arrested for Sasha’s murder and torn away from my perfect little family, I’ll wish I had told someone about the threatening note I received that morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll hate myself for not finding out who the gift hidden inside my husband’s wardrobe was for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll scream from the rooftops that I’m innocent – but no one will listen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will realise I was completely wrong about everything that happened that night…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But will you believe me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of Date Night </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Date Night is one cracking read. It's full of twists and turns, characters that you can't stop thinking about and a situation that is unthinkable. yet utterly possible. It takes the ordinary and gives it an elaborate spin to create a shocking domestic thriller. I loved it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, we have married couple Sean and Libby, parents to young daughter, Alice. There are obviously problems within the marriage and the planned date night is a way for them to try and reconnect with each other. But what happens is the start of a living nightmare for Libby. On their return home they find Alice alone in the house, while their babysitter, Sasha is missing, and then Libby gets arrested for her murder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a deeply disturbing story that truly unerved me. What happened during that fateful night? Who left the note on Libby's car? Ultimately, who is lying and who is telling the truth? Throughout the story we are given bits of information about the night in question and what has happened in the past, and it is the slow piecing together of this information that tells you the complete story, and it is brilliant and shocking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Date Night is a real page turner. I was hooked from the very beginning and was fully invested in Libby's story. Part of me wondered if she was an unreliable narrator, while another part of me believed every word she said. A roller coaster of a read that thoroughly entertained and lived up to its cover description. Highly recommend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Date Night is published on 20th August by Bookouture</span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-65843810489167043712019-07-25T07:00:00.000+01:002019-07-25T07:02:37.675+01:00#TheHoliday @TMLoganAuthor @ZaffreBooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgbN9U6NrBpswIDc104EtTrRUK67Kv69k8_MXQc0VECdA19OH9AVLm_8_ZwTNUZMMOC7qBnRRMljkiq6wHaq76KPZzKj2gMR86KE07-P1sULEWtXb7fpsf0Ha3op8XPjISdd0aeSTGLg/s1600/51C6naYxetL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgbN9U6NrBpswIDc104EtTrRUK67Kv69k8_MXQc0VECdA19OH9AVLm_8_ZwTNUZMMOC7qBnRRMljkiq6wHaq76KPZzKj2gMR86KE07-P1sULEWtXb7fpsf0Ha3op8XPjISdd0aeSTGLg/s400/51C6naYxetL._SY346_.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>About The Holiday </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seven days. Three families. One killer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was supposed to be the perfect holiday, dreamed up by Kate as the ideal way to turn 40: four best friends and their husbands and children in a luxurious villa under the blazing sunshine of Provence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But there is trouble in paradise. Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair, and that the other woman is one of her best friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of these women is willing to sacrifice years of friendship and destroy her family. But which one? As Kate closes in on the truth in the stifling Mediterranean heat, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because someone in the villa is prepared to kill to keep their secret hidden.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9Vn8K_sAtqauJIW4CiAkJGnJSzpLXgSaEcuAMlloe12mWpBL5Be-k9CilJ6_eqDrpu1U-ipK74I_5HAAY_0mCRhHrVuX0o5SHlwHC4BchtfCWVLTY2eW3bS9OUcVzIZ78lan0SkRH5I/s1600/51C6naYxetL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9Vn8K_sAtqauJIW4CiAkJGnJSzpLXgSaEcuAMlloe12mWpBL5Be-k9CilJ6_eqDrpu1U-ipK74I_5HAAY_0mCRhHrVuX0o5SHlwHC4BchtfCWVLTY2eW3bS9OUcVzIZ78lan0SkRH5I/s320/51C6naYxetL._SY346_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My review of The Holiday</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Holiday is an absolutely brilliant read. That tagline of 'Seven days. Three families. One killer' reeled me right in and I quickly became immersed in the world of these four women and their families. It's a wonderful 'catch your breath' kind of a read, with you never quite knowing who you can trust. Not even until the final few chapters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a fast paced read with short chapters that I just loved, as it pushed me forwards though the story, I had to keep reading. There are so many twists and turns, so many red herrings that I thought I had it all sussed out, only to find that I was competent wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a domestic family thriller set in a villa in France. Four women who have been friends since university decide to holiday together to celebrate their upcoming fortieth birthdays. But what unfolds is a tale that is dark, murky and full of secrets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story is told mainly from Kate's point of view, but we also get insight into the other characters point of view in the form of chapters that are dedicated to them. Kate suspects from the very first day of the holiday that her husband, Sean; is having an affair. The trouble is that the other woman is one of the three women, and so she keeps quiet and tries to unearth the truth herself. It is the fact that they are all t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ogether in this villa in France that gives the story it's undercurrent of foreboading. It is tense and claustrophobic as Kate cannot escape. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who on earth is the other woman? That's at the heart of this story. But we also have storylines involving the older children, that show that they too are harbouring secrets of their own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Holiday is so cleverly written. It pulls you in one direction and then another so that you get whiplash in wondering what on earth is going on. And as for the ending, well, it's both perfect and surprising at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Holiday really is a fabulous summer read and you'll never look at your friends in quite the same way again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to Readers First for the advanced paperback copy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Holiday is published by Zaffre on July 25th.</span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3593431744902252534.post-52841458227060198672019-07-24T06:34:00.000+01:002019-07-24T06:45:41.771+01:00#TheGirlIUsedToKnow @GerHogan @Aria_Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXLQS2nCrbt1TeCD_Pf4oimL9RgvXnNoGPhh7Y7Gw5MUuaKCKFK89oVwmzTLD_XOJ1jfHUtgeu_5CLyKnDW3iIP50V-3oUqGzbxlX7L76Dt1Wd97t7aP07RiBp9Xn_iZQeJAMCYxjT2A/s1600/20190720_151758.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1039" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXLQS2nCrbt1TeCD_Pf4oimL9RgvXnNoGPhh7Y7Gw5MUuaKCKFK89oVwmzTLD_XOJ1jfHUtgeu_5CLyKnDW3iIP50V-3oUqGzbxlX7L76Dt1Wd97t7aP07RiBp9Xn_iZQeJAMCYxjT2A/s400/20190720_151758.png" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About The Girl I Used to Know</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two women. Two very different lives. One unexpected friendship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amanda King and Tess Cuffe are strangers who share the same Georgian house, but their lives couldn't be more different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amanda seems to have the perfect life. But the reality is a soulless home, an unfaithful husband and a very lonely heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Tess has spent a lifetime hiding and shutting her heart to love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But if they can open up to one another, these two women may just learn that sometimes letting go is the first step to moving forward and new friendships can come from the most unlikely situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>My review of The Woman I Used To Know </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Girl I Used to Know is a warm hearted, emotional and thoroughly engaging read. It's a story that spans a lifetime and is one about the friendship of women, the strength of women and that we are all deserving of love. I absolutely loved it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book revolves around Amanda and Tess, two women who have known each other for decades, but who barely talk, or acknowledge each other, even though they live under the same roof. Amanda has been married for twenty years and has two teenage children. Her life has revolved around her husband and his needs, but things are about to change when she learns of his infidelity. Tess lives in the basement flat, just as she has done for decades. She is known as a recluse, a not very friendly sort, but why is this? What is her back story? We learn all about Tess and her past, just as we do Amanda's, as we progress through the book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both women are lonely. Tess through her own choosing and Amanda because of a marriage that looks good on the outside but which has very little depth or feeling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both women are very much the opposite of each other. One a mother and a wife, an upper class lady with money and contacts. Tess lives in her tiny basement flat, works as an office temp and has no friends. But, as we read this delightful story, these two women realise that they have more in common than they first thought </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Girl I Used to Know is a heart-warming and emotional read. It restores your faith in the human race. It is a book about the bonds that women share and that we all deserve to be happy and connected to others. It's a refreshing and delightful read. I look forward to reading more books by this author. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Girl I Used to Know is published by Aria. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the publisher and Victoria Joss for the paperback copy and inviting me on the blog tour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>About the author </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faith lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and two very fussy cats. She </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">has an Hons Degree in English Literature and Psychology, has worked as a fashion model </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and in the intellectual disability and mental health sector. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Follow the blog tour... </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09408311233618456017noreply@blogger.com0