One Endless Summer by Laurie Ellingham #bookreview

 

 

 About One Endless Summer

Three best friends.

Three continents.

Three months to live.

How long can you keep a secret?

Three best friends are embarking on an all-expenses paid trip of their dreams. The only catch? Every moment will be documented on film.

Lizzie’s battle with cancer is coming to an end, and now she’s ready to embrace adventure for the very first time. There are only three months, but it is Lizzie’s time to finally start living!

Jaddi is known for her stunning looks, flirtatious attitude and many conquests. But Jaddi has a secret and on this last trip together she needs to decide whether her best friends will ever know the real her.

Samantha has always been the ‘grown up’ of the group, the one with a five year plan. What Lizzie and Jaddi don’t know is that Sam is trapped, and her perfect life isn’t quite what it seems…

As they trek across the globe Lizzie, Jaddi and Samantha must come to terms with loss, love and trusting one another. But will it all be too late…

My review of One Endless Summer

I absolutely loved this innovative and truly original story about three friends travelling the world. Lizzie, Jaddi  and Samantha all have their own hidden secrets and reasons for embarking upon the holiday of a lifetime, even if they are going to be filmed 24/7 for a reality television show. I loved this story from beginning to end and was so sad when it ended.

From the book's blurb you might be fooled into thinking that this will be a depressing read about a young woman on holiday with her two best friends, making the most of things with only three months to live. But, don't be fooled into thinking that this is what the book is all about, because it isn't. This is a remarkable book, in that it is incredibly uplifting, not depressing in the least, in fact there are many funny moments,  and segments of the book that are particularly thoughtful in terms of its portrayal of a young woman with terminal cancer. The author has got the balance just right, in explaining what life is like for Lizzie, while at the same time not allowing the cancer to take over her unique character.

I loved all of the characters in this book. All different, all likeable in different ways and all with their own unique story to tell. The main story obviously revolves around Lizzie, as the reason they are on an all expenses paid holiday, curtsey of the television production company, is because she only has three months to live. This is her story. From the moment I met her on the page, I had an instant understanding of who she was and what she was about. I connected most with her. Jaddi, is the best friend who is opinionated, forthright and the organiser. She is the one that they all look to for guidance. But as the story unfolds, her true character is revealed, and when her true colours are revealed , I liked her even more. Lastly we have Samantha, and for me, it did take a lot longer for me to 'get her', but when I did, I also really liked her. For me, her secret was the hardest to swallow, and one that was hard to digest.

The plot of One Endless Summer is fast, twisty and at times it left me breathless, as I was swept along with the girls as they flew from one country to the next. I must admit that I also fell a little bit in love with Ben, the cameraman, who accompanied the girls on their travels. A gentle giant, whom I knew we would learn more about as the story unfolded. I think that we all need a Ben in our lives.

One Endless Summer is a story about loss, friendship, secrets but ultimately the root of this book is embedded in love. It truly is a fascinating read and one that I feel is the perfect summer read. I enjoyed this book immensely, it was such a treat to read, and I look forward to reading more by Laurie Ellingham.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy

One Endless Summer is published by HQ on April 20 and is available to buy from Amazon here

About the author

When I am not running around after my two children, my husband, our cockerpoo Rodney, or just plain running, I love nothing more than disappearing into the fictional world of my characters, preferably with a large coffee and a slab of chocolate cake to hand.

I have a First Class degree in Psychology and a background in Public relations, both of which help me in everything I do.

Thank you for your interest. You can follow me on Twitter - @laurieellingham - find me on Facebook - Laurie Ellingham Author - visit my website - www.laurie-ellingham.com - or email me at info@laurie-ellingham.com

The Darkest Lies by Barbara Copperthwaite

About The Darkest Lies

Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.

Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.

Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?

As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…

A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. Fans of The Girl on the Train, The Sister and Before I Let You In will be captivated.

My review of he Darkest Lies

The Darkest Lies is a captivating and brilliant read from Barbara Copperthwiate. This novel takes the ideal and seemingly perfect family unit and turns it on its head. Secrets are kept in this tiny rural village, located by desolate marshland and, as a reader, I got to spy on all of its occupants. This is a somewhat disturbing, chilling read that had me racing through the pages, savouring every word. I found it hugely enjoyable.

The novel is fast paced throughout, it really doesn't let up from the moment you read the somewhat chilling prologue. It left me frantically gripping onto the cliffhanger, wondering what on earth had just happened. It's such a clever start to the novel and sets the scene beautifully for just how desolate the marshes are in this quiet and sleepy little rural village. In fact, the way in which the village and its inhabitants are evoked is so descriptive, I actually felt like I lived there.

The Darkest Lies illuminated family life and that every perfect family has its own share of secrets. When thirteen-year-old Beth is found left for dead in a cold creek on the boundaries of the village, Melanie begins her own investigation in the village to find out what happened to her daughter and who attacked her. What she discovers is that her daughter had her own share of secrets and Melanie begins to question who she can trust. Melanie was an interesting character and I understood her completely. Partly because she is a mother like me, and that as a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your child. I understood her need to find out the truth and I was with her one hundred percent on this. I also believed in her because of the skilful witting, I saw what she did, I was with her every step of the way during her journey, during every twist and turn.

This is a dark novel, and I'll admit that it unsettled me. The fact that a family could have their entre world turned on its axis was shocking. I could have been reading about my family, or a family down the road. Parents who loved each other, and their daughter, began to question each other and had to face the harsh reality that they didn't know everything about their not so little girl. This is what really unsettled me, that our children are not children forever and that they need to forge their own path. It's just that sometimes we have no idea of what is really going on in  their lives.

This is really a novel of two stories. We have Melanie's story, as she strives to find her daughter's attacker and uncover her hidden secrets, as well as the story from the attacker's point of view, an unknown voice that I found completely compelling. The two timelines work wonderfully well together and create a gripping narrative, right until the final, surprising twist. I honestly did not see it coming.

The Darkest Lies is a dark, compelling and unforgettable read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The final paragraph haunted me, long after I had finished reading.

The Darkest Lies is published by Bookouture on 12 May 2017. You can find the book on Amazon here.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Barbara is the author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE and FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD. Both have been Amazon best sellers. Her latest book, THE DARKEST LIES, is out on 12 May.

Much of her success is thanks to her twenty-odd years' experience as a national newspaper and magazine journalist. She's interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. Thanks to people sharing their stories with her, she knows a lot about the emotional impact of violence and wrong-doing. That's why her novels are dark, realistic and tackle not just the crime but its repercussions.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.

To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCopperthwaite or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com

Blame by Paul Read #bookreview

 

About Blame

It is the summer of 1989 when Lucas witnesses an event that will tear his family apart. Over a decade later, his estranged father succumbs to a suspected heart attack.

Lucas shuns grief and escapes to New York with his colleague Mariana. However, a dark secret from his past threatens to re-emerge and destroy the burgeoning relationship before it has even begun.
When his father's girlfriend fails to reappear after reporting his death, the true cause of his demise falls under scrutiny. And as the startling truth comes to light, Lucas must confront the fact that father and son may not have been so different after all.

My review of Blame

 

Blame is a story about family, about trust and about learning from your past to shape your future. It is a book about finding yourself and who you are. I found this book both challenging and rewarding in equal measure, it really was a fascinating read. This is the first book I have read by Paul Read and I immediately liked his writing style, his use of phrasing, that was almost poetic. Although the subject matter is difficult, the book is surprisingly easy to read. The text flows, in a fast paced journey that takes us through Lucas's life, explaining who he was and who he is today.

 

The novel opens with a Prologue, that jettisons us into the future, ten years on from the present day story, which is that of Lucas coming to terms with his father's death after an apparent heart attack. The Prologue asked many questions and set up the story beautifully, leaving the reader with a griping cliff hanger. The pace doesn't slow down much from this moment onwards. We meet present-day Lucas, an intelligent man, a successful research chemist, but a man who also has self destructive tendencies, all of which can be explained by his past and what happened during the summer of 1989. Read writes with great skill, in his portrayal of this character. He is not particularly likeable, and he has his faults, but ultimately he is hugely interesting, he piqued my interest and I wanted to learn about what happened to him, as I wanted to understand the man he had become.

We learn of the past via Lucas's diary entries, that he wrote as an eleven-year-old back in 1989. I loved the natural feel of the writing, the typos and clumsy way of writing, but it was so subtle, so believable, that I actually believed I was reading an authentic diary written by a child. These diary passages gripped me, the thirst to know what had happened between Lucas and his father, and the reason for his mother's almost distant behaviour and lack of motherly concern. I also loved the descriptions, both past and present of his brother, Ryan. The bond between them was so palpable on the page, the dialogue so natural with that mixture of both love and hate. I found their relationship fascinating. Marianna, was also an intriguing character. Originally from America, and a computer nerd, I found her both refreshing and very likeable, and couldn't for the life of me figure out what she saw in Lucas.

Blame is very much a story based upon several mysteries; the mystery of how Lucas's father died and the mystery of what happened in 1989. This is a raw and honest portrayal of family life that both shocks and entertains at the same time. What this book ultimately asks is that of: Can we ever really change? Are we a product of our past? Does your past and upbringing truly define us? I loved everything about this book. It captivated me from start to finish, and the story of Lucas will stay with me for a very long time.

Blame is published on April 15 by Legend Press. You can find a copy on Amazon here.

With thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Paul Read has taught at several inner city schools as an Art and English teacher, both in England and Italy, where he currently lives with his partner and two children. He received a distinction in creative writing for his MA at City University London and has been a bookseller, ice cream van driver and a voice-over artist in his time.
The Art Teacher and Blame are both published by Legend Press.

He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

 

About He Said/She Said

You don't want to be left in the dark. Twisty, gripping and thought-provoking, HE SAID/SHE SAID is the suspense novel everyone is lining up to read and rave about.

'A tour de force - a gripping, twisting, furiously clever read that asks all the right questions and keeps you guessing until the very end.' Ruth Ware, author of The Woman in Cabin 10

'I'm calling it: THIS is the book I wish I'd written' Clare Mackintosh, author of I See You

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack.

She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, four lives change forever.

Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear.

And while Laura knows she was right to speak out, she also knows that you can never see the whole picture: something is always hidden... something she never could have guessed.

My Review of He Said/She Said

 

He Said/She Said is a fast paced, gripping and compulsive read. Once I began to read I could not put it down, I was hooked from the very beginning. If you love complex characterisations, twisted plots and an enjoyable story to boot, then you will love this book. I did!

 

The story we are told begins fifteen years previously, when Kit and Laura attend an 'eclipse festival' in Cornwall, on Lizard Point. Kit had travelled with his twin brother, Mac, along with Mac's girlfriend (and Laura's best friend), Ling. Laura had to attend a job interview and so traveled to meet them a few days later. They had funded the trip by manning a tea tent at the festival, selling the then, much drunk, spiced chai tea.

 

It is from this point onwards that the loves of Kit and Laura changes forever. After viewing the eclipse, Laura stumbles upon a purse that is in the grass, and on her search to find the recipient, stumbles upon a rape. We later learn that the woman's name is Beth and the man accused of rape is Jamie. The four characters lives from that moment on become entwined, when Kit and Laura are asked to provide witness statements and to then stand as witnesses during the rape trial. I won't say any more about what happens, but this is the beginning of their new lives.

 

This book is a dark read, and a thought provoking one, especially around the issue of rape and that of consent. It is very obvious that he author has done lots of research and provides us with an utterly plausible storyline with regards to the violation of rape victims when in a court of law, and the fact that it is very often their word against the accused. Very often it is the victim who is forced to plead her innocence, with sexual habits, past sexual partners, and state of mind all coming into play.

 

Kit and Laura are captivating characters, each telling their own story via alternating chapters in the book. In doing so, we get a fully rounded account of what has happened during the past fifteen years, helping us to fill the gaps and shed light on the present day. However, it is vary difficult to know who is telling the truth, and it is only during the last few pages of the book that we fully understand what has happened between them. To say that I was shocked, would be a huge understatement. At first I thought that the title of the book referred to the version of events as presented by Jamie and Beth, but in fact I now understand that the book is about Kit and Laura, and their relationship, and that there are always two sides to every story.

 

This book very much centres around the eclipse, with Kit and Laura, being eclipse chasers. I thought that this would put me off, but in fact it did the opposite. I found the information about the eclipse fascinating, and just heaped to add a further layer to the story. All of the important events that happen to Kit and Laura seem to revolve around the eclipse, so it is a part of them, part of who they are as a couple.

 

Erin Kelly is a very talented writer. By the end of the book In felt like I  knew Beth, Kit and Laura, that I knew their souls, what made them tick and what had shaped them, and this is very difficult to achieve. It is these complex characters that make the book a gripping and fascinating read. In truth, I did not like any of them, but that didn't matter, I didn't need to like them, merely understand them, and this was achieved by the end of the book.

 

He Said/She Said is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and a book that I highly recommend.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

 

He Said/She Said is published by Hodder and Stoughton on April 20th.

 

The book is available to pre order from Amazon here.