The Pod Couple: A Love Story in Episodes - Adam Leigh

When Chloe Adams embarked on the publicity tour for her new book, she didn't expect to appear on a live radio interview alongside Joe Harris promoting his memoir on the same subject.

Relationships.

They had last met years ago when Chloe abruptly ended theirs. Now a successful journalist, she is married to an equally ambitious film director, while Joe, still single, has struggled to move on.

The spiky reunion leads to an offer they can't refuse - hosting a podcast about failed relationships - and three months later they launch Ex-Communicate, exploring other people's heartbreak while tiptoeing around their own complicated history. Their on-air chemistry makes the podcast a rapid hit, but as their professional success grows, they're forced to confront the feelings they've buried for over a decade. Soon they realise there is a price to pay for discussing their emotions so openly in the pursuit of downloads.

The Pod Couple is a witty examination of our cultural obsession with failed relationships, exploring the uncomfortable truth that time rarely heals. It just makes things more complicated.

 

What did I think?

The Pod Couple is a fresh and modern love story with a podcast setting.  It's not a traditional love story but it's probably more realistic as their failed relationship is put under the microscope.

The book starts with a break-up and whilst Chloe didn't think of Joe until they meet again years later, Joe has never got over it.  Joe's life has been a string of failures from his relationships to his career and it can all be traced back to that break-up with Chloe.  Chloe meanwhile, is married with two children but she's not exactly happy.

Oh Chloe, I bet she wishes she could go back in time and have a word with her younger self but then she wouldn't have her two lovely children.  I'm not sure that would bother her though as she is quite selfish, which I thought would annoy me but it actually made me laugh.

Joe on the other hand, really tried his hardest to make me laugh but, as you might have guessed from his failed career as a stand-up comedian, he's just not that funny.  Put him in the same room as Chloe though, as they discuss their failed relationship on a podcast, and the chemistry between them results in lots of laughs (usually at Joe's expense).  

The Pod Couple is a very entertaining and thought-provoking book that does make you wonder "what if?".  Not just what if Chloe had never broken Joe's heart, but also what if you had made different choices in your own life.  

I received a gifted paperback to read for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: One Summer - Taylor Cole

Two people. Two pasts. One summer to fall in love.

Caleb is a former professional surfer trying to build his life after a career-ending accident.

Lindy has moved to Loor island to start a new life, combing the shores for sea glass to weave into jewellery.

When the two meet, sparks fly – but not the good kind. Then they discover they’re neighbours, and they’re stuck with each other for one, long summer.

As they slowly learn to trust each other, and find themselves sharing their stories that brought them to Loor, their dislike begins to unravel into friendship, then maybe something more.

But will the weight of their pasts ruin their chance of a future?

 

What did I think?

One Summer is a Cornish novel with a difference: it's set on the fictional island of Loor.  I actually thought this was a real place but I was getting mixed up with Looe.  The characters feel very real too and I loved all of them, both human and animal.

Lindy is really bad at her publishing job in London, she's just so easily distracted and it's made worse when she breaks up with her boyfriend Max.  As if her heart wasn't broken enough, she torments herself by watching Max's mudlarking videos that now feature his new girlfriend.  I mean, we've all done it...a bit of online stalking is harmless but Lindy is OBSESSED!!

So, when a pet sitting job comes up in Cornwall she decides a fresh start is a good idea...but she still watches those blooming videos!  Although Loor island is predominantly made up of old and very old islanders, there are a couple of hot guys to show Lindy that there are plenty more fish in the sea.

I really enjoyed watching Lindy and Caleb's relationship grow but I have to say that it was little dog Ted who captured my heart.  Taylor Cole paints Ted so vividly that it makes me smile just thinking of him now.  I would have liked Nemo, Max's Maine Coon cat, to feature a bit more but I loved how Lindy rescued him when Max cruelly abandoned him.  I did worry that she was doing it to keep a link to Max though as Nemo doesn't seem that fond of her...but that's cats!

Rather like the waves lapping the shore, One Summer has a relaxed, gentle pacing that ebbs and flows like the tide but like any island, the wind can blow in a storm at any moment.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/dAYeYgI

About the author:

Taylor Cole grew up on a council estate in Devon and is of Armenian heritage, via her maternal grandmother who survived the Armenian genocide as a child refugee. When she was twenty-one, Taylor left university to run away to Cyprus and live in a men's barrack block with her military boyfriend, but returned the next year to finish her BA in English, which she followed with a master's degree in Creative Writing. She lives in Newquay with the military boyfriend-turned-husband, two daughters and an eighty-year-old tortoise called Shelley who was found wandering the streets of Plymouth in 1958.

Publisher social media handles:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriaFiction 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriaFiction 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headofzeus/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headofzeus 

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BLOG TOUR: The F**K It List - Melanie Cantor

Meet Daisy. She’s just caught her boyfriend shagging someone else at her fortieth birthday party. She’s camped out in her childhood bedroom. And it looks as if her dream to have a baby has gone down the pan.

Now Daisy is 40, alone and in a world that seems built for couples.

Time for a F**K It List!

Hilarious and heart-warming, this triumphant novel asks what it is to be 40 and suddenly single, asking the question, why do we think we need a man to start a family, and what would you do with your own F**K It List? 

 

What did I think?

The F**K It List is a fun and powerful read that I really enjoyed.  Daisy is such a strong protagonist, although she might not realise it when her world implodes on her 40th birthday.  Talk about picking yourself up and getting on with things!  Go Daisy!  

I was so angry for Daisy at the start of the book when she finds her partner, Jack, cheating on her at her own 40th birthday party.  Daisy has always wanted children and Jack keeps promising they'll start a family when the time is right.  LIAR!!!!  Now Daisy is forty, single, heartbroken and living with her parents - it's not the life she expected.

Daisy is a very talented interior designer who runs her own business with her friend and business partner , Marcus.  So as much as Daisy might want to hide under the duvet and make the world disappear, she needs to get on with her life as she has business commitments she needs to honour.  This is when she shows her true strength and decides that actually, she doesn't need to be in a relationship to have a baby.

Daisy Settle in The F**K It List is Bridget Jones for a new generation.  I feel like I went through the highs and lows of her life with her as I turned the pages of this fabulous book.  It's heartwarming and empowering - a recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Melanie Cantor was a celebrity agent and publicist for over thirty years. Her clients included Ulrika Jonsson, Melinda Messenger and Melanie Sykes. In 2004, she hosted a makeover show on Channel 4 called Making Space and in 2017 having just turned 60 she was scouted on Kings Cross station, subsequently appearing as a 'real model' in the most recent Dove campaign. She is the author of Life and Other Happy Endings.

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What a Shame - Abigail Bergstrom

There is something wrong with Mathilda.

She's still reeling from the blow of a gut-punch break up and grieving the death of a loved one.

But that's not it.

She's cried all her tears, mastered her crow pose and thrown out every last reminder of him.

But that's not helping.

Concerned that she isn't moving on, Mathilda's friends push her towards a series of increasingly unorthodox remedies.

Until the seams of herself begin to come undone.

Tender, unflinching and blisteringly funny, What a Shame glitters with rage and heartbreak, perfect for fans of Emma Jane Unsworth, Dolly Alderton and Holly Bourne.

 

What did I think?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading What a Shame but I was drawn to it by the description of 'darkly comic' and 'hilarious'.  The story revolves around Mathilda's grief, so it doesn't have a laugh on every page; I wouldn't call it hilarious but it's certainly darkly comic and I found several parts amusing.

My heart went out to Mathilda who is grieving both for a parent and the end of a relationship; she wants to move on but the dark cloud continues to hang over her.  Healing baths, tarot readings and shamanic rituals all help to a degree but to fully move on, Mathilda must confront her past.

I loved the support network of girlfriends that Mathilda has and how they are all there for each other.  Mathilda's story is quite dark but Jeremy the puppy provides some light entertainment and a lot of laughs.

The format of the book is a little unusual, written in sections that flow effortlessly into each other rather than chapters.  I usually struggle with books that don't have any rigidly defined chapters that each start on a new page, but there's just something so incredibly compelling about What a Shame that the rhythm would have been interrupted with unnecessary gaps in the page.

Haunting, dark and often amusing, What a Shame is a masterful debut from Abigail Bergstrom.  It's a compelling and enjoyable read, despite the darkness of the storyline.

I received a paperback copy to read as part of the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: What Happened to Us? - Faith Hogan

Carrie Nolan is devastated when she is dumped by Kevin Mulvey after more than a decade without even a backwards glance! On reflection, she has sacrificed her own long term happiness establishing their critically acclaimed Dublin restaurant and pandering to his excessive ego.

Meanwhile Kevin can’t believe his luck. Valentina, their new waitress is a stunner, the kind of girl that turns heads when she walks in a room and surprise, surprise she has chosen him! He is living the dream!

Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched friends who need her as much as she needs them. Jane, who struggles to run the pub on the opposite side of the street, Luke, who has stopped drifting while his father settles in a nearby nursing home and Teddy, a dog who asks for nothing more than the chance to stay by Carrie’s side.

With Christmas just around the corner, all is not quite as it seems and a catastrophic sequence of events leads to the unthinkable...

How far do you need to fall before you learn the true value of family and friends? And is it ever too late to start again...

What did I think?

I absolutely adore Faith Hogan's books so I was really eager to read her latest book, What Happened to Us?  With a main character that you will instantly take to your heart, this is a beautiful story of relationships and friendship with a surprising twist of fate.  

Carrie and Kevin seem to have the perfect partnership: a long standing relationship and owners of a prestigious restaurant in Dublin.  When Kevin drops a bombshell that he is dumping Carrie for their sexy Columbian waitress, Valentina, Carrie thinks her world has ended.  With Valentina eager to get her claws into Kevin's business too, Carrie feels more and more pushed out.

Taking a step back from the restaurant, Carrie spends more time with Jane Marchant who owns a pub over the road.  It may seem like an unlikely friendship but fate has played a hand in this one, especially when handsome Luke and cute dog Teddy enter Carrie and Jane's life.  It just shows that some things are meant to be.

I loved the characters in this book, from lovable Carrie to detestable Valentina with spineless Kevin in between.  Carrie has such a huge heart and Kevin clearly didn't deserve it so I was delighted when he gets a taste of his own medicine with Valentina.  I also loved the story around Jane who has kept her pub running after being widowed despite being scared to be on her own.  The growth of her friendship with both Carrie and Luke left a warm fuzzy glow around my heart; something that Faith Hogan always seems to manage to do through her beautifully emotive writing.

What Happened to Us? is a heartwarming story of love, loss, friendship and new beginnings that completely captivated me and effortlessly spirited me away to Dublin for a short while. 

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy links

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Pv3cCJ
iBooks: https://apple.co/2BBjSpp

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2o3aMrV
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2OHDsSO

About the author:

Faith was born in Ireland and currently lives there with her husband, four children and two fussy cats. She gained an Honors Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate from University College, Galway. She was a winner in the 2014 Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair- an international competition for emerging writers. When she’s not writing, she’s an enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger.

Follow Faith

Twitter: @gerhogan

Facebook: @faithhoganauthor

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BLOG TOUR: This I Would Kill For - Anne Buist

Natalie King has been hired to do a psychiatric evaluation for the children’s court. A custody dispute. Not her usual territory. A distraught mother Jenna needs help maintaining custody of her children, claiming her former partner Malik has been abusing one of the children. He claims she’s crazy and compulsive. 

But what if all the claims are true, or none? And how does she work out where her concerns for the child slide into her growing obsession with her own lost father? With all the public interest, social media trolling and intense media speculation, Natalie finds herself struggling to view the case impartially.

More urgently: with both parents saying they’re desperate to keep their daughter safe—what if one of them is desperate enough to kill?

Against the backdrop of the Royal Commission into Child Abuse, Anne Buist brings us the third instalment in the Natalie King series. Buist takes a routine psychiatric evaluation and develops it into an insightful look into the intricacies and agendas within custody battles. Dealing with the continuing themes of mental illness and family dynamics, this crime thriller is not one to miss.

What did I think?

This I Would Kill For is a relatively quick read as the story runs along at a surprisingly fast pace and I found myself jumping to my own conclusions.  I was actually surprised to find that this is number 3 in a series, as it most definitely reads very well as a standalone; I certainly didn't experience any detrimental effect from not having read the earlier two books.  In fact I felt intrigued enough by the main character of Natalie King to want to read the previous books, so that's always a good sign when a reader jumps in mid-series.

Dr Natalie King is called in as an expert witness in a custody case.  Jenna and Malik are fighting over custody of their children but that isn't the whole story: 3 year old Chris is Malik's son with Jenna but 8 year old Chelsea is not his biological daughter and Jenna is accusing Malik of abusing Chelsea.  Natalie must find out whether there is any truth to the accusation and then decide where the children will be safe.  As Natalie spends time with the family, she uncovers one secret after another and her decision on the children's safety is not one to be made lightly.  Is Malik guilty of abusing Chelsea?  Why would Jenna lie about such a terrible thing?  Natalie King will find out!

You can tell that Anne Buist knows the field of psychiatry inside out as we are given a glimpse behind the closed door of the consulting room.  I loved reading about the way that Dr King manages to coax information out of her patient and I found the thought processes behind her observations fascinating.  As much as the science is based on fact, there is a very good story playing out; one which is very true to life and unfortunately happens all too often in real life.

I really enjoyed This I Would Kill For and, as much as I guessed some of the plot, I found my virtual visit to the psychiatrist's chair absolutely fascinating.  I have already decided that I want to read the earlier books to find out more about Natalie King's character as Natalie is struggling with her own psychological demons.  I think Natalie is a really strong, fresh and funky character and I look forward to reading more about her.

Anne Buist shows us a contemporary and modern side to psychiatry in this page turner of a psychological thriller.  Anne Buist's excellent writing vividly paints the scenes and her vast knowledge explains all the reader needs to know in order to follow the case, making this both an interesting and a thrilling read. 

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Story of a Secret Heart - Cassi Ellen

As Cassi, a 30-year old single woman, leaves a long-term, unhappy relationship, she struggles with the pain and anguish of a broken heart. When, by chance, she meets a handsome stranger, he introduces her to a world that she didn’t even know existed. As she begins to slowly forget all about her broken heart she learns to have fun again. It is then that her life starts to spiral out of control and all she can do is laugh and hang on tight. 

Story of a Secret Heart is about breaking up . . . and breaking down. It’s about the roller-coaster ride of a breakup and all the little stories in-between. 

What did I think?

This was so unusual in the way that it was written as you really feel as if Cassi is talking to you and you’re experiencing everything with her.  For someone who has travelled half-way round the world and is experiencing life in ways I would never dream of, it sometimes feels as if she has never lived at all due to the amount of comical scrapes she gets herself into.

I really liked Cassi as a character; she is so trusting and carefree and takes everything in her stride.  She refuses to wallow in self-pity after the break-up of her relationship and instead goes swimming in the sea of life.  She just needs to be careful that she doesn’t drown or get bitten by sharks, as she is in Australia after all.

I think the main theme of this book was just to enjoy life, have fun and don’t take things too seriously.  I realised how much I had come to care about Cassi when I started to get annoyed at how controlling Cassi’s new man, Ben, was – telling her what to wear and pretty much passing her round his friends.  For me, it was a bit of an eye-opener getting a glimpse into Sydney’s shady underbelly, and ok drugs and prostitution aren’t something I relate to, but it is fiction after all…or is it?

I loved the fun quotes at the end of each chapter and wish that I had written more down as I went along.  It has certainly ensured that I will pick the book up again in the future for some pearls of wisdom, such as these little gems:

‘I’m thankful for the horrible people I’ve met, they have showed me exactly who I don’t want to be,’ — Unknown.

‘Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.’ — Unknown.

With one foot in the chick lit genre and the other foot in gritty real life drama, Story of a Secret Heart is well worth a read if you’re looking for something that little bit different. 

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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How to Stuff Up Christmas - Rosie Blake

Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiancé is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen. 

But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?

A hilarious and heart-warming novel about Christmas, catastrophes and cooking, containing exclusive Christmas recipes, from the talented Rosie Blake.

What did I think?

This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover with sparkly lettering and mouthwatering gingerbread but, getting a hint from the title, we get the impression that this isn't going to be a story full of sparkle and sweetness.

As much as I liked the characters of heart-broken Eve and hunky vet Greg, it was Eve's dog Marmite who stole my heart.  When Eve's ex-boyfriend, Liam, broke her heart, she took Marmite as revenge as she knew how much he loved the dog.  As the story unfolds, Marmite is pivotal in mending Eve's broken heart and she finds out how much she really does love Marmite after all.

There was a really good will they/won't they going on with Eve and Greg that had me guessing right up to the very end.  Eve, understandably, is finding it hard to trust again and Greg has personal issues to deal with.  I kept thinking that the stars were about to align but then something happens and I thought fate was perhaps trying to tell them something.  I was also wrong in my guess as to whose body part caused the breakup between Liam and Eve, as Rosie Blake had very cleverly drawn my attention elsewhere.

The recipes at the start of some chapters were a lovely addition and give us a hint as to what culinary delight Eve was going to attempt next.  I say 'attempt', as Eve is not known for her cooking and you just knew that every time she heads into the kitchen a disaster is ready to strike.  Disaster or not, the prawn and leek linguine sounds delicious and I'll be copying out that recipe to try myself, with fully defrosted prawns of course.

This is not just a simple love story; there are surprises and twists with lots of laughs, making it the perfect festive read.

I received this book from the publisher, Corvus, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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Heart Conditions (Breakup Doctor book 3) - Phoebe Fox

Running a massively successful relationship counseling practice should guarantee smooth sailing in a girl’s own love life...

Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden has spent the last year sifting through the fallout from the disastrous decision that led to her unconscious uncoupling with boyfriend Ben Garrett. Despite advising her clients you can’t be friends with an ex, she and Ben have somehow begun to stitch together a friendship—one Brook hopes is slowly turning into more. That is, until Ben introduces his new girlfriend, Perfect Pamela, a paragon of womanly virtues who is everything Brook is not.

While Brook navigates her newly volatile emotional life, an unwelcome surprise shows up on her doorstep: the ex-fiancé who broke her heart two years ago—one month before their wedding. Between her ex’s desire to rekindle their attachment, her best friend Sasha’s unexpected crisis, and her own unsquelchable feelings for Ben, Brook finds herself questioning the personal progress she’s made in the last two years—and threatened with the highest-stakes Breakup Doctor failures she’s ever faced.

What did I think?

I don’t usually like to jump into a book mid-series but I made an exception in this case as this book sounded like so much fun.  With this being book 3 and my having enjoyed it so much, I can certainly say that you can read this as a stand-a-lone without having to read the earlier books.  Although I definitely want to read the first two books now!

So Brook, the Breakup Doctor, is torn between two men; her ex-fiancé Michael and her ex-boyfriend Ben.  It’s a bit like team Edward or team Jacob in the Twilight saga – the reader will end up rooting for one or the other, just as I did.  Michael appears to have changed since breaking off his wedding to Brook and Ben seems to have moved on by dating Perfect Pamela.  One is available, one is not – which one has captured Brook’s heart?

I have to say that my favourite character was Ben’s dog, Jake.  He reminds me of Scooby Doo – he’s so hilarious and loving that I eagerly looked forward to his appearances.  Thankfully, Phoebe Fox seemed to enjoy writing about Jake as he is almost one of the main characters himself.  I had many laugh out loud moments thanks to his escapades.

There’s also an interesting little story going on with Brook’s best friend, Sasha who is in a relationship with Brook’s brother, Stu.  Brook helps Sasha through a dilemma in a most unconventional way, which I found very amusing.  Sasha has a difficult decision to make and I thought it was handled very sensitively.

The Breakup Doctor was just the thing to put a smile on my face and I would heartily recommend a dose of this when you’re feeling blue.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Henery Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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Crazy Over You - Carol Thomas

When Abby met Simon, a drink in the uni bar lead to keeping in touch, late-night phone calls and intimate catch-ups. It was the start of something special, a love Abby believed would last a lifetime. 

A wedding, two daughters and fifteen years later, Abby's world is falling apart. Having discovered Simon has had an affair, her normally ordered mind is spiralling out of control. Crushed by the betrayal and shocked by her own reaction, she knows she needs to get herself together; she's just not sure where to start. 

With Simon on a mission to win her back and a close friend hiding a secret that could push her further over the edge, Abby finds strength and support where she least expects it. But as she attempts to gain control of her life and make decisions about her future, it may be more than the limits of Abby's mind that are put to the test! 

Crazy Over You is a refreshingly honest portrayal of a woman's reaction to her husband's infidelity while also being a touching story of friendship and love. It is a novel for all those who have experienced a break-up and know that living happily ever after is not quite as simple as meeting your man!

What did I think?

From looking at the cover, you might be forgiven for thinking that this is run-of-the-mill chick lit, but Crazy Over You is a really thought-provoking book examining the effect of an affair on a marriage.  Far from being all man-hating and finger pointing, it really digs deep into Abby's thoughts and feelings.

Abby is understandably crushed by Simon's affair.  She feels hurt, betrayed and angry so it's no wonder that she starts a harmless flirtation with her colleague, Brad the hunky PE teacher.  I wasn't sure of Abby's frame of mind when flirting with Brad, was she trying to get back at Simon or simply wanting to feel attractive?  Either way, Brad turns out to be a really good friend (almost with benefits) and when Simon sees Abby with Brad he gets a touch of the green-eyed monster and realises what he has lost.

The book really delves into Abby's psyche and I thought it was brilliant when she vented her anger by writing a therapeutic letter to 'her'.  As we all know, it takes two to tango so although Abby is angry with the other woman at first, she realises it is Simon she must forgive or forget in order to move on.  I really felt her struggling with her feelings and as she flirts more with Brad I could feel her struggling as she was still in love with Simon.

Abby needs to decide if her marriage is worth saving and just when she has made her decision she finds out that her friend has also been keeping a secret from her.  Abby is so confused and tormented that she thinks the worst and I wondered if she could ever trust Rachel or Simon again.  I'm not giving the ending away but this book is written in such a way that anything could happen and I'm sure it's an ending that will divide opinions.

A very clever, deep and thought provoking story.  For some reason, I didn't really warm to Abby so I can't award 5 stars, but I did enjoy the book as a whole.  It's a really good debut novel from Carol Thomas and I look forward to reading more from her.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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