A Review – Take Me Now by Nancy Jardine

How can anyone ever say no to a free book? There's a reason it's my favourite thing to come across!

Free books means so many more stories to read, and I never pass up the opportunity to get my hands on a free book – no matter the genre, author, anything. It's like Christmas every time I come across one!

The bonus always comes when it's an author I'm already familiar with, and I get a chance to read a book I likely would have read anyway, and I get to go into it already knowing I will enjoy it before even reading the first sentence.

So, let me introduce my most recent read!

Conclusions jumped at too soon. Sabotage and attempted murder? Hilarious predicaments.

Patience isn’t Nairn Malcolm’s strong point when someone sabotages his business. It gets much worse when he, too, is under attack. He needs someone who can transport him from his Scottish island castle base to destinations across the globe and also help him keep his business interests running smoothly. Who could be all that, and available to him 24/7?

Aela Cameron’s skills are perfect for Nairn’s current predicament. Transporting him across the globe is a pushover. Dangerous situations don’t faze her, in fact they make her more determined to solve the mystery of Nairn’s saboteur. She’s not into passing flings – yet how can she resist her new boss as time runs out on her temporary contract?

Is Nairn seeking the impossible? Can Aela find a compromise?

Grab a copy!

My Review!

One of my favourite kinds of book are ones that you are drawn into instantly, and don't want to put down. They are the kinds of book that you hold close and simply devour. This was one of those such books.

Nairn Malcolm is incredibly business minded. He can't simply sit by and let his employees do the work for him, but instead has an intense need to be in the know, to keep up with everything happening in his companies, and stay up to date with any changes or developments. When a motorbike accident leaves him in plaster casts, and struggling to even walk around his house, he knows he can't keep going in the same way he always has, but still tries to hold on tightly to his control.

Enter Aela Cameron. She holds the relevant licences to drive, fly, or sail all of Nairn's different vehicles and forms of transport, and knows her way around administrative responsibilities. Taking the job as his PA would open up opportunities for her, and give her the funds to help set her up for further education. But she never anticipated the job being quite so demanding, nor her boss being quite so handsome and frustrating.

Nairn expects of Aela the same level of commitment to his companies that he himself has. A 24 hour contract means that she is constantly on call, no matter what time he decides to fly to a different country, or attend business meetings. The work is difficult, but rewarding, and Aela finds herself enjoying her new role, if not growing increasingly more frustrated with her new boss. Nairn is infuriating, his moods changing like the wind. One moment, he is charming and pleasant, and the next, Aela battles with a short-tempered and rude man. The constant switches in Nairn's personality give Aela cause to push down whatever she might feel for him during his more pleasant moments. Although, she can't deny, he is incredibly attractive.

I found myself increasingly sympathetic towards Nairn. He is used to being able to do everything for himself, whether it is driving himself around, keeping on top of his multiple businesses, or even simple things such as cutting up his own food, or doing up the buttons on his shirt. Multiple injuries have left him reliant on others to help him, and the frustration is clear. Despite his understandable mood swings, he is an incredibly kind character, and his business sense and abilities to keep track of so many things at once is remarkable.

Aela, too, I found myself liking almost instantly. She doesn't put up with Nairn's snarky comments, and pulls him up on things that others wouldn't dare to mention. She is smart, witty, and brings a whole other level of humour to this story, as she is not afraid to back down, and speaks her mind. Between her and Nairn, there is a lot of miscommunications, and when they both jump to conclusions, which happens often, things seem to get lost in translation. Arguments and misunderstandings lead to some fairly humorous situations and conversations, which lighten the story and make the characters all seem so much more real.

Of course, this is not just simply a sweet romance of a grumpy boss and his sarcastic PA, although that is certainly an important element of the novel! There is a mystery afoot – sabotage is rife within Narin's businesses, products arriving damaged, orders tampered with, accidents resulting in property damage. There is even cause to believe that Nairn's motorcycle accident was not simply an accident. With someone in the company causing problem after problem, and Nairn relatively unable to intervene due to his injuries, tensions rise quickly and as he and Aela travel the globe attending business meetings, it quickly becomes apparent that whoever is behind everything is not finished yet. With this extra level of tension, this novel escalates from an office romance to an in-depth mystery, with hidden dangers around every corner. Trying to figure out who is causing such mayhem, and their motive, creates a fast-paced story that you can't possibly put down!

This is a novel I absolutely devoured. It didn't take me long to get through this book at all, I read most of it in one sitting because it drew me in and I couldn't step away. If you are after a romance with a twist, with characters you will simply fall in love with, look no further!

And done!

I actually read most of this book at work, on a really quiet day when there was not much else to be done... shhhhhh!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – Hot Demon Bitches Near You by J. E. Erickson

Now, I've not written a book review for my blog in a long long while. So long, I actually had to scroll back to remember how I used to format my posts.

Life got in the way for a bit, but now I am beginning to find the time for reading again. Which in turn has reminded me how much I enjoy reading.

So, without further ado, this is the first review on my blog since May last year (about 9 months ago!)

A possessed phone app, bloodthirsty demons, and a drive for vengeance that reaches beyond the grave.

Libby and Whitney, teen friends with a shared secret, hatch a plot to avenge the violent death of their friend by killing DJ, the architect of her murder. Their plans crumble when the Guardians of Purity – a radical right-wing, neo-fascist, evangelical, white supremacist hate group – crashes the Autumn Ball, takes the high school hostage, and begins assaulting the students.

Salvation comes in the form of three mysterious demons sent from Hell to help Libby and Whitney save themselves, the students, and get their revenge… but at a price they might not be ready to pay.

Grab a copy!

My Review!

This is a book that has been sat on my kindle for a while. I am not sure whether I got myself a copy during a promotion, or whether I was just so intrigued by the cover and the title that I couldn't help myself. But, when looking through my kindle for my next read, it was very difficult to scroll past this one, especially with such a title! But even still, I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, until I came across the content warnings on the first couple of pages. And there were a lot of them!

Libby and Whitney have a dark secret, and a sinister plot. A fake hatred simmers between the two, a front put on for the world to see, as Whitney spends her time with her boyfriend, DJ. He is, of course, unaware that she can't stand him, and that the whole premise of their relationship is built on a lie and a plan. But when the Autumn Ball is brought to an abrupt end, and taken over by a radical hate group, DJ and his father among the intruders, the plans that Libby and Whitney have been concocting must change quickly if they want to make it out alive.

Enter the hot demon bitches. A mysterious, possessed, phone app puts in the order, and three demons arrive to fulfil it. But getting all the students out safely isn't the only requirement of the order. There is something else on Libby and Whitney's minds - revenge. And revenge is something the demons are perfectly capable of, and rather enjoy doing. And revenge comes in the form of bloodshed, gore, and teaching the intruders a lesson that will haunt them in the grave.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. The revenge exacted is done so with a psychotic and horrifying sense of calm and a thirst for violence. Although there is comedic value to some of the conversations, the level of violence and gore is immense. The mental images this novel plants in your mind are truly chilling, and at times, give you pause for thought - just how far is too far? For those who love gore and horror, this is certainly the book to choose. Bodies get mangled in a multitude of creative and imaginative ways, and the horror itself is graphic. A personal favourite scene when it comes to the comedic qualities of the novel includes the demons struggling to bypass a table saw's emergency cut-off, so it can be used as a weapon, the safety features that detect flesh acting against them in their attempts to use the saw on one of the intruders. Moments like this lighten the mood of the story, but it's still firmly a novel that will be enjoyed by those who enjoy dark humour and body horror. The author has not held back, and the careful depictions create a novel of the darkest possible nature. The descriptions of mutilation are morbidly fascinating, and despite the content and gore, you find yourself transfixed by the creativity and variation put into practice with the murders.

Despite the majority of this story being centred around the horrors of the revenge exacted by the three demons, helped by Libby and Whitney, there is also a clear narrative and backstory woven into the story, creating a well-rounded story with meaning behind it, rather than just blatant mutilation. Libby is an incredibly likeable character, and so much happens to her, it would be impossible not to feel a sense of protectiveness over her. Watching as a helpless bystander as the characters you like suffer abuse is heartbreaking. They do, at times, seem to get over things very easily though, with few mental side effects. Physical injuries are one thing, but the events of this novel are sure to haunt the characters. Although there is an element of emotional damage and fear, the full extent of the trauma almost appears to be glossed over in favour of bloodshed. 

There are a few typographical errors in this novel, which do unfortunately pull you out of the story. Occasionally, the perspective or scene switches without a clear break, and it can be difficult to keep up with what is happening. These are minimal though and, looking past them, they do not affect the quality of the story, although they can affect how easy this novel is to read. 

A dark and thrilling account of demons for hire, this novel is a morbidly fascinating account of physical mutilation and a deep desire for revenge, exacted in a timely and bloody fashion. This novel isn't overly long, so once it has drawn you in, you're transfixed throughout. I read the whole thing in an evening, it is easy to find yourself transfixed by the intricate disembowelling that is so carefully depicted! For those who are after a captivatingly dark and thrillingly gruesome quick read, this is certainly the one to go for.

And done!

I know I have said it before, and I didn't exactly stick to it last time, but I am actually going to try and maintain consistent posting for at least a while! I miss chatting away on here!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Mini Reviews for Short Stories – AKA I got carried away downloading short stories

I have a problem. You probably know this problem if you've read any of my posts before. If a book is free, I download it. It doesn't generally matter what genre it is, I just download it.

I recently found a wonderful thing, in that if you search books by categorisations, you can find a plethora of short stories to download for free. It's truly wonderful.

I don't know about you, but if there's not a lot of substance to a story, I tend to struggle to write much about it. So I decided to write some mini reviews and put them all together into one post – genius, right?! 

I did, however, start making this post in 2021, and didn't finish making it until now. The 'publish' button on blogger tells me that the last time I opened this draft was on May 8th 2021. So the first two reviews are just over four years old, and have yet to see the light of day. The second two are new!

I will, therefore, stop rambling and start reviewing!

The Bag
by Steve Saidby

The bag in my hand is heavy, its contents are a motley crew of assorted flotsam and jetsam, but how did this stuff and I come to meet each other?

Grab a copy!

My Review

You ever read a book and wonder when it's all going to start making sense? This is one of those types of books. I had an idea of where it was going, and it turns out I was right!

Jon can't remember what he did between waking up and finding himself in his house with a shopping bag filled with seemingly random items. The story continues to tell about how these items came to be, and how Jon came to have them in his possession.

The issue I had is not anything to do with the actual story, but according to Amazon, it is 11 pages long. The problem I had is the why and I'm not sure that 11 pages is long enough to properly explain the ins and outs of this story. That being said, without the in depth explanation my mind desperately wanted, I created my own instead, which made me enjoy the story more because I felt as if I were a part of it.

All in all, I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars.

Cat & Jemima J
by Jane Green

From number one Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Green comes an original short story, Cat and Jemima J, featuring Jemima, the main character from Green's beloved novel Jemima J, and Cat, the main character from her upcoming novel Summer Secrets.

When young journalist Cat meets JJ, a career-making opportunity for a story presents itself. Cat has the chance to shine - but at the expense of a new friendship, will she take it?

*Featuring the first chapter of Jane Green's brand new novel, Summer Secrets!*

Grab a copy!

My Review

While I know the exact definition of short story is just that, this one was much shorter than I expected it to be. Only half of this book is the actual story, the other half is the first chapter out of a different book. It is obvious (after looking into the author's other books) that this one is a draw in, a mini sequel to another book made to draw readers in to get them to buy the new book.

Cat is a journalist who is a little too nice – every time she gets a good story, it's because someone has let slip something they don't want publicised and, being the lovely person she is, Cat promises not to tell anyone or to include the details in her article.

When she meets a woman in a bar one night, a woman who had simply sat down at Cat's table to make sure no one took her bag while she went to the bathroom, Cat doesn't realise the extent to who she's sat down with or the implications it could have if she could get an interview with her...

Cat was a lovely character to read about. The writing was easy to follow and at no times did I feel at all lost in the story. I loved how she readily conversed with JJ, despite being strangers, and how her caring nature meant that they formed a quick, but brief, friendship. The story ended rather abruptly, but still, it was a good read.

If this had been a short story for the simple purpose of telling a story, with a proper start, middle, and ending, I would give it a 4 star, but the way this story was used, and the fact that it ended so quickly, without a proper conclusion, means that I am going to give this one a 3.5 rating.

Secret Summer
by Elizabeth Grey

Violet Archer can't believe her luck. Her gorgeous new boyfriend is whisking her off on a romantic sun-drenched getaway!

Well, not quite. There'll definitely be sun. But there'll also be a advertising shoot, a film crew, their eccentric best friend, Max, and one of the senior partners of their new ad agency. Oh, and of course, the teeny tiny issue that Violet's boyfriend is her best friend and soon-to-be boss, Ethan Fraser, and if anyone finds out they're together, he'll be fired.

In the Santorini sunshine, can Ethan and Violet pull off a successful shoot, keep their secret hidden, and still find time for a little bit of summer sizzle?

This is a Short Story in the Agency series. It is set between Just Friends (book 1) and It's Complicated (book 2).

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My Review!

Violet and Ethan are basking in their new relationship, having gone from being best friends to being a couple just a month ago, but already feeling the deep adoration of love for each other. There is the slightest of problems though – Ethan is about to be promoted to be Violet’s boss, and he will be fired if it is found out that he is in a relationship with another employee of the company.

Travelling to a sunny getaway, Violet and Ethan work on a project rather than being able to enjoy the sun as a holiday, and keeping their relationship a secret starts to get harder. Especially with their best friend, Max, sniffing about.

I did really enjoy this story. It is light-hearted, yet there are several undertones of trauma. Not everything in this book is soaring off the high of newfound love, and there are some more difficult topics covered. Rational fears bubble to the surface, and Violet and Ethan begin to realise just how much they can lean on each other, and trust each other, in such a short amount of time. 

Max is an absolutely amazing character. He is like a Labrador, funny and sweet, and yet sometimes incredibly dumb. Even though Violet and Ethan take the spotlight of this story, Max is a very important addition, and he is guaranteed to become a quick favourite.

Violet and Ethan’s relationship seems natural to them, although hiding it becomes somewhat of a chore. They want nothing more than to be able to hold hands, and share a room, but they can’t let on that they are anything more than friends. At times, it causes some tension amongst the other characters around them, but the sexual tension is intensified ten-fold by their forced distance. There are some steamy scenes in this story, although they seem entirely well-placed considering the situation the couple find themselves in.

Overall, this is a well-rounded sweet and light-hearted story, with characters you will love. It does not feel like it is missing anything by being so short, although it is part of a series. It does not feel like this book was created to drag readers into the series, but rather as an additional insight into the characters, as a story that makes sense on it’s own. Having said that, it does make you want to read more about the characters, and spend more time with them.

Until Forever

by Mia Sanchez

One second, she was my best friend, and the next, I was madly in love with her.

She is nothing like me. I have demons in my head while she dances in colours. And perhaps for that reason, it was so simple to fall in love with her.

But my feelings were nothing but a secret. I kept them hidden for five years because I feared losing her. She fell in love with other people while I continued to hurt some more.

But one evening everything suddenly changed.

Will I ever be able to tell her about my feelings? Will she ever accept my love? Will we ever be able to find the forever we both craved so desperately?

Grab a copy!

My Review!

This story is one that skims the surface of narrative, while delving deep into emotions. The story is driven by feeling, and pushed forwards by hope, rejection, depression, and love.

This story was written in an interesting writing style. It almost reads like a diary, never truly explaining the past, but following the present, through deep feelings and fears. The leading perspective narrates the story as though it is a running commentary inside their own head, creating a deep sense of knowing the character. There are no boundaries separating the character from the reader, as the character's entirety is laid out to be read. It may have helped to know some more about the characters themselves, or if some scenes had more detail and went more in-depth about what was happening, rather than just the feelings of the main character, but as it was it did keep my attention while reading.

I particularly liked that the main character's gender is never specified. Throughout the entirety of reading, I pictured the narrator to be a woman, although reading some of the reviews on the book, several people have pictured a man while reading. The lack of gender specification makes this book a lot more open to reader interpretation, allowing the reader to make this story their own experience by filling in the blanks, and reading about the inner feelings and experiences of the main character, without the focus being on their day-to-day life.

There are some darker themes explored in this story, which readers should be aware of before reading. Alcoholism, mental health issues, anger issues, and suicide are all mentioned, but all are handled tactfully, and with care.

This was definitely an enjoyable story, and the writing style was unique. It is an intense reading experience, not a short and sweet romance for a quick read between longer books. It is a deeply emotional story, and will certainly have you feeling emotional as you read.

And done!

A post four (or just over) years in the making, and finally surfacing!

I do have several other posts in my drafts like this that need attention, so eventually I might get to those ones as well!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Book Review – Love at First Flight by Janine Amesta

I saw the author of this book promoting ARCs on Bluesky, and the cover is just so adorable, I couldn't help but click on the link to read the blurb.

And then somehow, I found myself signing up for an ARC. And I promptly forgot about it until it showed up in my inbox, and then I got excited all over again!

I read the first half of this book a little at a time, and then the second half all in one go – once I got into it, it was impossible to stop! So, without further waffling, here is the book and my review!

Can the most awkward ‘Meet Cute’ lead to something real?

When Selah Moreno‘s father unexpectedly dies, she abandons her dream job as an airline pilot to helm her family’s struggling hot air balloon business. While piloting is in Selah’s blood, the pressure of being everyone’s rock leaves little room to breathe. It’s no wonder she gets caught up in the daydream of flirting with a handsome potential client…until she finds out he’s booking a proposal flight.

Smith Rock park ranger Dex Westerly wants to take his relationship to the next level, but nothing goes right. His proposal is rejected and a rogue wind tips the basket upon landing, sending the pretty and curvaceous balloon pilot into his lap where she makes an ill-timed joke, increasing his humiliation.

Months later, Dex and Selah bump into each other and bond over business struggles. Dex proposes a marketing partnership to promote her balloon tours while raising funds for the park’s new wildlife rescue program. Sparks fly between them, and when a promotional social media post goes viral, they’re pushed into a pretend whirlwind romance that starts to feel too close to love.

Grab a copy!

My Review!

After losing her father, Selah is not prepared to step into his shoes and take on the role of ‘Captain’. She has always been second in command, not solely in charge, without him to help and protect her. But his hot air balloon business was his pride and joy, and she can’t just let the competition take over and the business fold in on itself. 

Dex is certain that what he wants from life is to get married, to join his life with his girlfriend, and he could think of no more romantic way of proposing than in a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, things don’t go entirely to plan. Not only does she say ‘no’ when asked the question, but when the balloon comes in to land, the basket tips, throwing the pretty pilot on top of him. 

Selah and Dex are not an unlikely pair. She works as a hot air balloon pilot, and he is a park ranger. Both jobs involve spending a lot of time outdoors, and having a passion for the area they both live in. That doesn’t necessarily mean that either of them are in the right place for a relationship though. Selah hasn’t had time to properly grieve her father, and Dex has just found himself forcibly ejected from his own relationship. There is an attraction, but they are both wary about acknowledging it, for fear of losing a growing friendship. 

Selah and Dex are both characters you absolutely cannot help but love. Selah is a little hard around the edges, but when you get to know her, you discover the emotions that hide beneath her tough exterior. Dex, on the other hand, comes across as very open, although there is certainly a front that he hides behind. They both have their own struggles, but together they seem to find a comfortable sense of companionship. Although this book isn’t overly long, it does feel like there is enough time to get to know both characters, and there is a lot of backstory carefully woven in for both of them, explaining the reasons for the ways they both think. They are both very rounded characters, and both incredibly loveable!

A shared project is what truly brings Selah and Dex together. Dex had previously rescued and rehabilitated a crow, whom he affectionately named Harper. He had asked the park he worked at whether they might be able to set up an animal rehabilitation centre, but without the funds or interest available, his dream of providing such an important service seems unreachable. But Selah also needs publicity – her father may have been passionate, but he was not the best with money, leaving his business struggling and the family at risk. To get anywhere with the debts he left behind, Selah needs to get business rolling in and word of the company spreading about. A joint project slowly grows between them, something that would both raise awareness of Harper, and the importance of looking after wildlife, while also giving Selah an opportunity to get her balloon in front of as many people as possible. Harper truly is a driving point of this story, and she is such a character in herself! Although she is a crow without a voice, she makes her thoughts and feelings very clear, and she is quite amusing to read about. She adds an uplifting tone to the story, and she plays her role very well. 

This is a story of romance, but also of loss; grieving and acceptance, and learning to live after losing someone so very important to you. There is certainly an important message of how family and friends together are stronger than one person by themselves, and although Selah doesn’t necessarily get along with all of her family, all of the time, they are a very important part of her life. The difficult subjects have been handled carefully, and although grief is a key emotion of this story, it is accompanied by hope. This book is, in it’s entirety, uplifting, despite it’s darker themes, and it is certainly a book that you don’t want to put down. The characters capture you, and it’s almost impossible to put the book down and leave them alone! 

I really did truly enjoy reading this book. It is slightly on the shorter side, but the story is unhindered by it’s length, other than the fact that I wanted to spend longer with the characters! This is definitely the book to go for if you’re after a slow-burn, friends to lovers, romance, with fully fleshed out characters you will fall in love with.

And done!

This review took me absolutely ages to get around to writing. I think it was actually over a month. Somehow, though, I remembered every single aspect of this story – it's either an amazing testament to my memory (unlikely), or just goes to show that some books really do stick with you!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

April Reading Wrap-Up

April was significantly better than March for reading. I only read 3 books in March, but 5 in April. However, I did only post on my blog once in April, and have been very behind on actually being online at all... oh well!

FOUR STARS

The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

FIVE STARS

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

The Hike by Lucy Clarke

None of this is True by Lisa Jewell

Spirit Level by Richy Craven

I didn't actually realise I read two books by the same author until after I had finished reading them. I found The Hike on a community bookshelf, and thought it sounded interesting. That was the only paperback I read this month (the rest were all audiobooks). The Castaways I listened to, and enjoyed the majority of the book, but I did not like how it ended, hence the 4 stars, rather than 5.

The Lost Apothecary I technically started listening to in March, but I only listened to about an hour or two of it, and only right at the end of March. So it just about qualifies for this post!

My favourite book of this month was definitely Spirit Level, even though I only just finished listening to it in time. There will definitely be a review to follow for it soon, because it really was very good.

My goal for May is to read more physical books. It's all well and good borrowing audiobooks from my library app, and listening to them, but I can only listen to them as quickly as they are narrated (I can't stand listening to anything sped up) and it doesn't really help me get through my physical TBR list. I think I'll aim for two ebooks and at least one physical book in May, in addition to any audiobooks I listen to while driving about.

Another goal for May is to actually finish editing the third book in my short story series, The Choice Series, because it's now been written and not released for nearly two years and that is way too long!

Also to actually post on my blog and have a presence on social media this month.

So nothing much!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

New author obsession – Beth O'Leary

I've been on BorrowBox again, choosing books to read/listen to. There are a lot of books that are available to reserve, but not too many that are available for immediate borrowing. The Switch by Beth O'Leary was available, so I chose it and started listening.

Thus began a very quick obsession with the writing style, and so I went for the next one available – The Flatshare.

Then The Wake Up Call.

Basically, I listened to each book Beth O'Leary has released in turn, until I had run out. And it didn't take me long to get through them. So I figured they would constitute as one really long post, rather than 5 separate ones.

So strap in!

Leena is too young to feel stuck.

Eileen is too old to start over.

Maybe it's time for The Switch...

Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Newly single and about to turn eighty, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love, and Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire.

But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn't straightforward. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, and with the online dating scene.

But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought?

Grab a copy!

My Review!

While on the surface, things seem to be well for both Eileen and Leena, the truth is not quite as simple. A year ago, Leena’s sister passed away, and both of them have found it difficult to move on from the tragedy. While Eileen has faced the loss every day, looking after Leena’s mother in the small village, Leena threw herself into work instead, to cope. The switch forces Leena together with her mother, whom she hasn’t been able to properly face since her sister’s death, while giving Eileen time away, to figure out who she really is after losing her granddaughter and husband. The contrast of the two women stepping into each other’s lives is stark – Eileen is not prepared for the fast paced environment of London, and Leena isn’t ready to drag up the past when she has tried so hard to keep moving forwards. However, being forced to face their fears and step up forces them both to step outside their comfort zones, and attempt to find themselves.

Eileen quickly grows accustomed to the lively and bustling nature of London, but is not prepared for the lack of community she finds. In Leena’s building, no one knows their neighbours, and there is a distinct lack of life in the building. By attempting to bring country life to the city, Eileen quickly blossoms into her new, self-proclaimed, role of positively meddling in everyone’s lives for the better. As she meets more people, and grows closer to them, Eileen truly starts to shine, and is such a kind and loving woman to read about – although she really can’t help but stick her nose in if she thinks she can make a situation better!

Leena hasn’t spent a lot of time in Yorkshire since her sister’s death, and is not prepared for how open everyone in the neighbourhood is to talking about the loss. The OAPs of the village, all of her grandmother’s friends, are not as welcoming to Leena attempting to step into her grandmother’s role as she originally thought they might be. Trying to relax into village life after the fast paced stresses of working as a businesswoman in London isn’t something Leena finds particularly easy, and she finds her emotions getting away from her whenever she sees her mother. I really loved Leena. She is such a lovely person, and she does put her all into everything she does, even if she isn’t entirely sure what she is doing, and when everyone around her seems to think she isn’t capable. She is determined to prove herself, and she works so hard to do so.

While the novel conveys a lot of emotion, it does not hold back on the humorous side of things. There is nothing quite like reading about a pair of elderly ladies talking about penises to make you chuckle! Between Leena’s mishaps, and Eileen’s worming her way into other people’s business, there is plenty in this novel to make you laugh out loud. It is certainly a memorable read. 

Tiffy and Leon share a flat

Tiffy and Leon share a bed

Tiffy and Leon have never met...

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they're crazy, but it's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy's at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven't met yet, they're about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window...

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My Review!

Tiffy desperately needs somewhere to live, and Leon needs a little extra money each month. The idea of renting out his flat to someone, to share the space, is the perfect solution for him. He works nights, and is only in the flat during the day, when anyone else would normally be at work. The only slight problem might be that there is only one bedroom, so sharing the flat also means sharing the one bed – albeit at different times! Although not ideal, Tiffy has little choice. And so, even though they do not get a chance to meet prior to moving in together, both Tiffy and Leon start to adapt to having another person in their space.

With Leon’s unsociable hours, and the fact that Tiffy has still not met him and doesn’t quite know what kind of person he is, they begin to communicate through notes left about the flat. This way of communicating with each other truly brought their connection closer together, and you can absolutely feel the joy of finding a new note while reading. Tiffy and Leon are very different people, Tiffy eccentric and sure of what she likes and her own opinions, whereas Leon is very quiet, and keeps his thoughts to himself. Leaning more about each of the characters though their notes was certainly an interesting and intriguing way of getting to know them. 

Tiffy introduces herself very easily and is very open with the reader, whereas the reader has to work a little harder to get to know Leon. His quietness and calculating nature comes across perfectly in the way his chapters read. His perspective comes in the form of short, to the point, sentences, reflecting his nature of being more reserved, but also that of his work as a palliative care nurse, jotting down anything of importance and ignoring the rest. I did particularly enjoy this way of showing his way of thinking and it gave an excellent way to get to know Leon.

The romance in this novel is inevitable, although it does not feel clichéd. Tiffy and Leon spend a long time getting to know each other through the notes they leave around the flat, but they do hold a lot back, not writing down everything about themselves. Watching them slowly begin to find out more about each other, and realise they truly enjoy coming home to find out what the other has left for them to read was beautiful, as you can watch them start to care about each other.

Although this novel is quite lighthearted, there are undertones of some more serious topics, including manipulative and abusive ex-partners, and PTSD. These topics are handled tactfully, and the characters involved have a lot of support from those around them. The friendships in this novel are certainly strong ones, built on trust.

Albeit not necessarily a character often in the spotlight, I absolutely adored Leon’s brother, Richie. His part in this novel is certainly important, and adds a lot of depth to the story, but he also provides a sprinkling of humour, even though his situation is anything but humorous. Through his phone calls, he keeps both Leon and Tiffy's spirits high, and it is next to impossible not to like him. 

This novel is certainly up there on the list of my favourite books. It is the kind of book that makes you want to read it again and again, for you simply cannot get enough of the characters. 

They'll do anything to save the hotel, except work together . . .

Welcome to the Forest Manor Hotel, where the staff and guests are one happy family. Except for Izzy and Lucas - bitter rivals banned from working the same shift, for everyone's sake.

After struggling for years, the hotel may soon have to close its doors forever. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management this might fix everything. With four rings still sitting in lost property, Izzy and Lucas are forced to work together to try to save the day.

But as their rivalry becomes something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas start to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future . . .

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My Review!

Forest Manor Hotel is the kind of place where everyone who visits feels at home, where all the guest and staff create a family of sorts, and all are welcome. But the hotel is in trouble, the financials mean that it might not be much longer until they have to fully close. Izzy and Lucas have both been working on reception for a while, and both feel as at home there as everyone else – unless they are working the same shift, that is. They have always been on different shift patterns, a rota engineered to save their co-workers from listening to their arguing, but with staff cuts, there is no choice but to have them working together.

When they go through the lost property, and start selling things in an attempt to raise some money, they come across a container of lost wedding rings, and Izzy refuses to sell them. A wedding ring is something deeply personal, and she wants nothing more than to return the rings to their rightful owners. A large reward from the return of ring number one turns the other four into a challenge – who can find the owners of the other rings, and garner rewards to save the hotel and preserve their jobs.

The competition between Izzy and Lucas certainly pushes them forward in their attempts to save the hotel. They are both desperate to prove the other wrong, to prove how much better they are at the task at hand. Their petty arguments can be quite amusing at times, for they are very different people and their personalities certainly clash. They are, though, both quite likeable characters. What really makes this book though is the setting – Forest Manor Hotel is truly a stunning place, and even just reading about it makes you want to visit it, or even to join in the efforts to save it. 

Izzy and Lucas have been at odds for many months, making it almost impossible for anyone else to stand being around them both. They argue to no end, try to one up each other at every turn, and hate being around each other. But they both have feelings, hidden deep, deep down, that even they don’t want to admit. The enemies to lovers aspect of this story is very obvious, there is no doubt that they will end up together. If anything, Izzy and Lucas’ relationship seems less of enemies to lovers, and more along the lines of them being attracted to each other but in denial. Their relationship doesn’t progress slowly, but rather rapidly, and their hatred for each other seems rather forced. The progression of their relationship may have worked better, and seemed more natural, if it was more of a strangers to lovers story, rather than making them enemies. There is a cause of their hatred for each other, but the way their relationship was presented didn’t necessarily work for me. 

Despite not necessarily liking the way their relationship progressed, this is an enjoyable novel and Izzy and Lucas are characters you can’t help but like. For a lighthearted read, with plenty at stake, this is certainly a book you won’t want to put down.

Addie and her sister are on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in rural Scotland. But, not long after setting off, a car slams into theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, who she hasn't seen since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.

Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. And with four hundred miles to go, they can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship . . .

Will they make it to the wedding? And, more importantly, is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?

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My Review!

Addie and her sister, Deb, are on their way to their friend’s wedding, a road trip hundreds of miles north to get to Scotland. Their car is already a little fuller than they would’ve liked, having offered a lift to Rodney, who put out a message asking for a lift to the wedding. But when a car slams into the back of them, things are about to get a little more hectic.

Addie and Deb’s car is fine, but the car behind them is totalled. Meaning that Dylan, Addie’s ex, and his best friend, Marcus, have no way of getting to the wedding they were also heading to. Unable to leave them on the side of the road, Addie offers them a lift, and they both pile into the car with them as well. But Addie and Dylan didn’t split on good terms, and they still have a long way to drive.

This book is split into the ‘now’ and ‘then’, telling the story of both the trip to the wedding, and also the start of Addie and Dylan’s relationship. The backstory does add to the story, although they weren’t my favourite chapters. I really loved the chapters of the road trip, both the arguing in the car and everyone banding together to solve problems along the way. Their trip turned nightmarish on multiple occasions, and it turned more into a journey of trials and tests, forcing everyone to work together to get through them. 

Despite this book being about Addie and Dylan’s relationship, I couldn’t help but focus more on Marcus. He is a very annoying character, but I did really like him. He has a lot of struggles, which are dramatically highlighted in this book, but he certainly has a good redemption arc. There is a vast difference between the ‘then’ and ‘now’, most noticeably in Marcus, for he has changed a lot in the time between the two.

Dylan and Addie’s relationship in the ‘then’ didn’t necessarily seem the best to me. They argued a lot, and never seemed to truly see eye to eye. Them reuniting in the ‘now’ seemed to happen with a greater understanding of each other, making their interactions seem a lot more genuine, and grown up. I understood the two sides of the story, and although their communication wasn’t great, there was no real bad guy in the majority of their relationship. Both were doing what they thought was best, and they had their own problems to work through. Although they were frustrating at times to read about, the difference in the characters between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ certainly highlighted the character development, and how much each character had grown and matured in the time. 

While it handles some difficult topics, this novel is light-hearted, fast paced, and will certainly make you chuckle every now and again. It felt very much like the trip was a quest, and that the characters had to work together to get to the end of a game level, the final destination being the wedding, and it made the whole journey entertaining while giving it a deep sense of purpose. 

Three women. Three dates. One missing man...

8.52 a.m. Siobhan's looking forward to her date with Joseph. Breakfast on Valentine's Day surely means something ... so where is he?

2.43 p.m. Miranda's hoping that a Valentine's Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. But why hasn't he shown up?

6.30 p.m. Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane's fake boyfriend at a dreaded engagement party tonight. But he's not here...

Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him.

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My Review!

Three women, three missed dates. Joseph Carter was absent on all three planned Valentine's dates, so where was he, and why?

Between Siobhan, Joseph's London fling, Miranda, his girlfriend, and Jane, his book club best friend, Joseph has an intricate and intimate life. Three women attempt to figure out the truth behind Joseph Carter, try to get to know him, but there are things he keeps hidden, and the full truth behind his absences on Valentines Day is something he doesn’t seem to want to talk about. 

As you start to get to know the three women, it becomes almost impossible to justify any of Joseph’s actions – spending time in one woman’s chapter instantly makes her the favourite, but as soon as you switch to another’s perspective, you begin to question which of the three women most deserve the truth, and whether or not any of them actually deserve Joseph’s full attention. If Joseph is the prize they are all unknowingly fighting for, it is difficult to determine whether he is a prize worth fighting for – after all, there are three women all vying for his attention, each unaware of the other two.

It would be difficult for me to pick favourites between the characters of this novel. All three women are such distinct characters, and none of them fade into the background. There are no chapters, or characters, that you want to skip over to get back to your favourite, as they all become fast favourites. Plus, they all provide a different perspective to the mystery of Joseph, for they all see a different side to him. The girlfriend, the best friend, the hookup – Joseph reveals different truths to different women, and it is difficult to garner the truth between the things he holds back. 

Although I loved all the women in this book equally, I did massively relate to Jane, and I must say I found myself preferring her chapters over the others (although only slightly). She lives off routines, and has so much going on in her life – meeting Joseph is something entirely unplanned, and all that unfolds after their initial meeting is something she never could have planned for. She is an incredibly endearing character, and I so loved how this story played out for her.

There is a massive plot twist in this novel, one that is absolutely not expected, and entirely unpredictable. Not often have I actually gasped out loud while reading a book, but I did when the first portion of the twist was initially revealed. The last quarter or so of this book was read hurriedly, for once things started to unravel, it was impossible to put this book down.

For intense matters of the heart, three incredibly lovable female leads, and a mystery spanning the intricate life of one man, this is certainly a book for lovers of romance. It has been crafted masterfully, and as you advance through the story, it begins to infiltrate your life so much you can’t stop thinking about it.

And done!

I think this is the longest post I've ever had 'in the making', but with five full length novels playing a part in the making of it, the time taken to actually get this post finished is fairly understandable.

Now I've read all of Beth O'Leary's books, I guess I had better get looking for another author to obsess over!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

March Reading Wrap-Up

Although I got back into the swing of reading in February, March let me down slightly. I found myself super busy, and barely had time to listen to audiobooks, let alone sit down and read.

Plus, my phone was broken for a few days, and the reservation on an audiobook I was halfway through listening to ran out while my phone was broken. So technically I read/listened to 3.5 books, in March (or I just lost about 6 days worth of listening for nothing, as I couldn't immediately re-reserve the book to finish it.

I did also start another book at the end of March, but I didn't even reach half-way in March... so I'll put it in April's wrap-up.

FIVE STARS

The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde

Love at First Flight by Janine Amesta

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

So my plan to read as many books in March as I did in February fell apart, but oh well!

The Wren in the Holly Library was also a contribution as to why I didn't read quite as much in March, as the audiobook is quite long. I was quite shocked when I looked it up that the page length is no-where near as high as I expected. Perhaps the narrator just talks quite slowly. I'm not really sure! I did review this book on my blog, which you can read HERE!

Love at First Flight was the only e-book I read this month (the other two being audiobooks). There will be a review for this on the way, as it was really quite excellent! I won't go into it too much now though, and will save it for the review!

My mega Beth O'Leary post is nearly ready now, as I have now listen to the audiobooks of every book she has written and released, so there will be a massive review post soon, with reviews of all five books!

Anyway. I'll stop rambling and get back to reading!

That's all for now...

Bye!

A Review – The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde

This was one of those books I found on my nifty little audiobook library app, and reserved it just because I couldn't find anything else I wanted to read, and was trying to line up some audiobooks to listen to.

I ended up completely entranced in the story, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of listening to it.

So, without further ado (and because I wrote this review about an hour before I'm posting this) here is the book and my review!

She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price.

Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.

By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.

Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.

Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .

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My Review!

Life in New York became much trickier to navigate when the monsters arrived. After the Monster War, though, with treaties in place, there were laws that made it ever so slightly safer for humans to co-exist alongside monsters. That is, if the humans aren’t the ones to break the Monster Treaty first.

Unfortunately for Kierse, breaking into the house of a monster to steal from them certainly means that she has broken the treaty, and her life lays in the hands of the monster who caught her. He doesn’t have to hand her over to the authorities – she broke the treaty first. But Graves surprises Kierse, and doesn’t instantly end her life. Instead, he offers her another option – to come and work for him, to work a job. There is a spear that he needs stolen for him, and word on the street is that Kierse is the best thief there is.

There are some things that both Kierse and Graves don’t understand, though. Graves is unlike any of the monsters that Kierse is aware of, unlike any of the monsters who signed the treaty. She is used to vampires and werewolves, but meeting Graves breaks every assumption the world has had about monsters. Monsters not Magic was a big part of the treaty, but Graves definitely falls into the second category. On the flip side, Kierse should never have been able to break into his house. With magical wards surrounding the entire building, it should have been impossible for anyone to walk in, let alone without him knowing about it. Yet, Kierse had no issues walking directly through the wards without even knowing they were there. As Kierse and Graves attempt to learn things about each other, it helps to introduce the reader to the world. While learning what isn’t normal between the two characters, it lets the reader know what is normal in this new and strange reality, giving a base point to be able to work from as more characters start to be introduced.

Kierse was absolutely my favourite character in this novel. She is strong, fast, good at what she does and confident in herself, but she is not without weakness. She grew up fighting for survival, not knowing where her next meal was going to come from, and pickpocketing to get by. She has had more than her fair share of difficult circumstances, and has come out the other side victorious. She is a character that makes me want to be more like her. She inspires strength, while also showing that it is okay to need someone to lean on every now and again. Her relationship with her friends is also very heartwarming. They are her family, and she would do anything to ensure their safety – even work a job for a monster, knowing she might not make it out alive.

Graves’ character was one I couldn’t quite decide if I liked or not. There are times he is incredibly frustrating, with his tendency to withhold information, and only reveal what he deems necessary to, but he can also be tender and kind. He never truly made his way into my heart, though, and at the flip of a coin he could very quickly lose the trust I had for him, but also gain it back very easily. Never entirely knowing his plans made it difficult to know if I truly knew him or not, and Kierse reflects those thoughts and feelings with the way she mistrusts everyone but herself. With Kierse so firmly a favourite character, not being sure about Graves made this book incredibly fast paced with the tension of not really knowing what was going to happen next.

My favourite thing about this novel is that, even though there is a second book in the series on it’s way, there are no loose ends. Multiple story threads open up and start unravelling within the story, and all are tied up by the end of the book. While you will most likely want to continue following Kierse in the next book, there is no need to. The story in itself is over, and there is a definite ending, albeit a fairly open ending, with different characters starting to take different paths. There were even some characters that I forgot about while reading, as the tension started to rise, and even those characters came back into the story to join the ending. It was not a forced ending, everything came together fairly naturally, and the fact that everything was tied up so neatly at the end was incredibly satisfying. 

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and I was genuinely surprised when I looked it up to find out this book was only 377 pages long. So much happens it felt like a much longer book, but it all plays out incredibly smoothly, and nothing feels rushed. This is truly a story packed full of events, and twists and turns, but it is not so long that reading it feels a chore. It will pull you in and ensnare you, only allowing you to break out at the end of the book.

And done!

It took me a few days to actually get around to writing this review, but now I've written it, I'm remembering how much I enjoyed this story, and that book 2 isn't out until JUNE! This story ends nicely wrapped up, but I just can't leave Kierse for that long! I loved her so much!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!