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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The Push - Ashley Audrain

 

'I think she pushed him,' I said to you quietly. 'I think she pushed him . . .'

The arrival of baby Violet was meant to be the happiest day of my life. But as soon as I held her in my arms I knew something wasn't right.

I had always known that the women in my family aren't meant to be mothers.

My husband Fox says I'm imagining it. He tells me I'm nothing like my own mother, and that Violet is the sweetest child.

But she's different with me. Something feels very wrong.

Is it her? Or is it me? Is she the monster? Or am I?

The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

What did I think?

I saw so much excitement about The Push on social media that I just had to read a copy for myself.  With short, punchy chapters that beg you to read 'just one more' I devoured this book over a 24 hour period.  I had to keep a tight rein on my eyes at times as they tried to zoom ahead quicker than I could read, especially at the end.  

Written in the first person, the reader is privy to the thoughts and experiences of Blythe as she recounts her experience of motherhood.  Blythe's story is interspersed with snippets of her family history starting with her grandmother in 1939 and followed by her mother in 1957.  Neither of Blythe's ancestors would win mother of the year so it's no wonder that Blythe thinks that she's a bad mother.  It doesn't help that her daughter Violet seems to be the spawn of the devil, or is she?

Blythe often doubts herself so you can't help but wonder how reliable a narrator she is.  It's almost like Blythe and Violet take an instant dislike to each other, or is that just Blythe's impression?  Postnatal depression could explain a lot of Blythe's feelings towards Violet as everyone else thinks that Violet is sweeter than honey.  I found myself inadvertently picking a side and wondering which side other readers would choose: are you Team Blythe or Team Violet?

Ashley Audrain's writing is stunning and with this amazing debut she doesn't just go on the 'one to watch' list, she's on the 'one to read again' list too.  The exploration of motherhood, showing a side that isn't all sweetness and light, is absolutely exquisite.  Not every woman finds that motherhood comes naturally but it's almost a taboo subject even though it shouldn't be something to be embarrassed about.

The Push is an exceptional debut; it's chilling, disturbing and completely compelling.  If ever there was a book guaranteed to be read in one day, this is it.  Believe the hype; this book is FANTASTIC!

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Strictly Come Dating - Kathryn Freeman

I love Kathryn Freeman books so I am thrilled to be taking part in the Rachel's Random Resources Blog Tour for Strictly Come Dating.  Scroll down to find out about Kathryn's new book and to read my review.

 

Saturday nights are strictly for dancing… 

As the glitter ball shimmers and sequins flash, forty-year-old Maggie remembers the pull of the dancefloor.  But now, as a newly divorced mum of two, Maggie’s certain her dancing days are over.  Or are they…?

Encouraged by her friends, Maggie dusts off her silver stilettoes and enrols for dancing classes, all she needs now is the perfect partner.

Enter Seb.  Young, carefree and hot as hell, Seb is definitely a perfect 10!  Even though everything about him is outrageously inappropriate! But as Seb sweeps her across the dancefloor every week, Maggie begins to see a new side to him; kind, caring, funny, strong. 

And Maggie realises that he’s the only one she’d like to foxtrot with…perhaps even forever

What did I think?

I'm a huge fan of Kathryn Freeman but I have to admit that, having never watched Strictly Come Dancing and being unable to tell a foxtrot from a tango, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy her new novel, Strictly Come Dating.  I needn't have worried as I enjoyed it immensely, so take note -  this one isn't just for Strictly fans.  

Maggie is a fabulous character and I loved how she and her friends gathered around the TV each Saturday to watch Strictly together.  They take turns hosting and they're so serious about Strictly that phones and talking aren't allowed during the show.  They all gladly accept the rules until Maggie's friends' brother, Seb, arrives back from Australia and can't hold his tongue.  He finds the show amusing but spends most of the evening watching Maggie, which doesn't go unnoticed by his sisters although Maggie is completely unaware.

Seb is completely smitten with Maggie and he doesn't care that there is a 10 year age gap but Maggie is completely hung up over her age.  I wanted to give her a good talking to as she keeps going on about her age (she's mid-thirties not an OAP) but I could understand her being a bit down on herself after her husband left her and her two fabulous girls.  Seb does his best to bring back the sparkle into Maggie's life and there's nothing more sparkly than Strictly!

I loved the strong family vibe in Strictly Come Dating, both Maggie's relationship with her daughters and Seb's relationship with his sisters.  Maggie's daughters, Penny and Tabby, totally stole the show for me - they are gorgeous girls and a credit to Maggie, with no thanks to her ex-husband, Paul.  When Paul comes back on the scene he's like a Dementor from Harry Potter, sucking out all the fun from their life.  I'm surprised Maggie even let him into the house after he had been absent for two years but then she was thinking of what was best for her girls.

Strictly Come Dating is a fabulously sparkly romance that isn't just for Strictly fans, although Strictly fans will LOVE it.  It's a wonderfully heartwarming read that kept me entertained and left me with a big smile on my face.  I loved it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero. 

I’ve two sons and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), so any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links – 

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

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BLOG TOUR: The Mothers - Sarah J Naughton

Five women meet at their local antenatal group. The only thing they really have in common is that they are all pregnant and live within the Chelsea area. Beyond that they all lead very different lives.

Five secrets. Three years later, they are all good friends and often meet up as a group, nick named ‘The Mothers Club’. They get along well enough. Don’t they?

One missing husband. When Bella’s husband goes missing the same night as one of their mothers club get togethers, the police come knocking. Each of the women clearly have secrets they’d like to hide. But the trouble with secrets is that someone always tells…

What did I think?

I love a book filled with secrets and Sarah J Naughton crams in as many as she can in her awesome new novel, The Mothers.  The story centres around a group of women, loosely called friends, who are so very different but similar in the way that they each carry around their own dramas in their bulging emotional baggage.  With five characters, you'd think it would get complicated as to who was who but the way they are introduced one at a time leaves a lasting first impression of each woman.

After one mother's club meeting, Bella's husband Ewan and one of the friends go missing and so the story flashes back to the past as we discover the events leading up to the double disappearance.  The dynamic of the group is very intriguing as apart from babies, which only four out of the five women have, they have absolutely nothing in common.  It almost seems like they feel obliged to remain friends but as we know, appearances can be deceptive.

I loved reading each woman's story equally, which is a rare thing as I would usually have a favourite but they are so multi-dimensional and Sarah J Naughton paints such a vivid picture of their lives.  I was so immersed in their life stories that I almost forgot about the mysterious disappearances, which turns out to be a jaw-dropping story in itself.  Then just when you think all has been revealed, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Twisted and chilling, The Mothers is a gripping thriller that reminds us to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.  If you liked Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies, you'll love Sarah J Naughton's The Mothers.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Sarah J Naughton grew up in Dorset and is the bestselling author of The Other Couple and Tattletale. Her debut children's thriller, The Hanged Man Rises was shortlisted for the 2013 Costa Award. The Mothers is her third novel for adults. Sarah now lives with her family in Belgravia.

@sarahjnaughton

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BLOG TOUR: A Million Dreams - Dani Atkins

Beth Brandon always dreamed of owning a florist, but today the bouquets of peonies and bright spring flowers are failing to calm her nerves. Because today, Beth has a life-changing decision to share with her husband.

Izzy Vaughan thought she and her husband would stay together forever, but sometime last year, their love began to fade. They both find such joy in their young son Noah – but is he enough to keep them together?

Eight years ago, something happened to these two women. Something that is about to bring them together in a way no-one thought possible...

Thought-provoking, emotional and uplifting, this is a gripping love story for fans of Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

What did I think?

Oh my giddy aunt, this book has broken me; in fact A Million Dreams hasn't just broken me, it has shattered me into a million pieces.  I have to admit that as a HUGE fan of The Greatest Showman, I picked this book up solely because of its title without reading what it was about and, even though Hugh Jackman's not even mentioned in it, I am delighted to say that it completely exceeded my expectations.  I was absolutely floored at the end of Chapter One and continued reading with a lump in my throat that didn't go away and resulted in tears on several occasions.  

Dani Atkins has created two very strong female characters in Beth and Izzy who each have to deal with their own inner turmoil.  Beth's story is heartbreaking but she's so pragmatic that I couldn't help but admire her.  I wasn't really quite sure what was going on with Izzy; it felt as if she was pushing her husband away with no good reason to do so.  As their two stories intertwine, Dani Atkins puts the reader through an emotional wringer; not only was I predominantly heartbroken but I realised that I had also felt a myriad emotions ranging from devastation to hope.

I can't say any more without spoiling the story but seriously, take my word for it and read this book; I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.  There are so many things to think about and I wondered what I would do in the same situation.  I know for sure that A Million Dreams is a book that will stay with me for a very long time as I've found myself thinking about it long after I finished it.  

A Million Dreams is completely heart-shattering, incredibly thought-provoking and surprisingly uplifting; I'd give it a rating of a million stars if I could as scooping the full 5 stars doesn't seem nearly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy links:

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iBooks

Google Play

About the author:

Dani Atkins is an award-winning novelist. Her 2013 debut FRACTURED (published as THEN AND ALWAYS in North America) has been translated into sixteen languages and has sold more than half a million copies since first publication in the UK. Dani is the author of four other bestselling novels, one of which, This Love, won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2018. Dani lives in a small village in Hertfordshire with her husband, one Siamese cat and a very soppy Border Collie.

Follow Dani:

Twitter: @AtkinsDani

Facebook: @DaniAtkinsAuthor

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Valentina - S.E. Lynes

When Glasgow journalist Shona McGilvery moves with her partner Mikey and their baby to an idyllic cottage in rural Scotland, they believe that all that lies ahead of them is happiness.

But with Mikey working offshore, the frightening isolation of the Aberdeenshire countryside begins to drive her insane...

That is, until she is rescued by a new friendship with the enchanting Valentina.

She has the perfect home, the perfect man, and a charismatic new best friend – or does she? As her fairytale life begins to unravel, the deep dark wood becomes the least of her fears...

What did I think?

This was a psychological thriller and a half.  With mysterious characters and plenty of twists, albeit some were guessable but no less enjoyable, it had me turning page after page until I had devoured every last word.  It left me reeling and wondering just how well we really know the ones we love.

For Shona it is love at first sight when she first sees Mikey but unfortunately he’s not single, although his relationship is apparently on rocky ground.  When his relationship does break up, Shona agrees to go out with him and the rest, as they say, is history.  Only this story doesn’t have a happy ending.

When Mikey gets a job offshore, Shona and their daughter, Isla, move to Aberdeen.  Mikey has chosen a little cottage in the middle of nowhere which at first seems idyllic until Shona realises how vulnerable she is in this remote area.  Shona wants to make friends so she enrols Isla in a trial at a nursery; it is there that she meets the vivacious enigma, Valentina, who is also trialling the nursery for her son, Zac.  With babies the same age in common, they immediately hit it off and Shona invites Valentina to the cottage.  Although they appear to be friends, it isn’t long before Valentina seems to be taking advantage of Shona, leaving the baby for Shona to look after and always finding an excuse as to why Shona can’t meet her husband, the mysterious ‘Red’. 

There were lots of questions floating around my head when I was reading this book.  Why does Shona call Mikey her husband when they aren’t married?  Why aren’t they married?  Where is Valentina’s husband?  Does he even exist?  Just who is Valentina?  With so many questions, it was no wonder I kept wanting to read one more chapter.  I just had to find the answers and I couldn’t contemplate thinking of anything else until I found out how this story would end.

As debuts go, this is one of the best.  It really crept under my skin and made me question everything I had read.  I was fascinated by the change in Shona – she went from being a tough cookie standing up to people in the street to being scared to be on her own in the cottage.  She almost lost her identity by trusting and believing in the man she knew as her husband.  As her rose coloured glasses are ripped from her eyes, all the pieces of the puzzle slot into place and she finally sees Mikey for who he really is.  Who will be left standing at the end?

An absolutely gripping story – Valentina is completely enthralling from start to finish.  This is a debut of such exceptional quality and I am eager to see what S.E. Lynes has in store for us next.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Blackbird, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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I am delighted to release my review as part of the Valentina blog tour.  Please make sure you follow the tour for some amazing reviews of this captivating book.

Forget Me Not - Luana Lewis

 

When Rose’s daughter, Vivien, is found dead in a suspected suicide, Rose has questions nobody can answer. Wasn’t Vivien living the perfect life? A caring husband, a sweet little girl of her own. 

Or the perfect murder?

But as the police investigation develops, their findings raise new questions. Did Vivien kill herself, or was she attacked? If so, who has something to hide? 

As Rose struggles to piece together the secrets of her daughter’s life, the cracks in the family begin to show. But once Rose knows the answers, there’s no going back...

What did I think?

With a prologue entitled 'The day she died' I knew straight away that I was going to be up all night reading this book, and I wasn't wrong.  I would have read it in one sitting had I not needed to eat and feed my I'm a Celebrity addiction.

The clever hook from the prologue is that we don't know who finds the body of Vivien.  Indeed, what kind of person would find a dead body and not report it?  Could it be the same person who killed her, or was it a suicide as it appears?  So many questions were flying through my mind as I was reading this book and I really couldn't read it fast enough.  Thankfully, all questions are answered with flashbacks telling us what actually happened and I hadn't guessed at all, so it was an amazing reveal for me at the end.

This is written in a way that the reader examines all the main characters and comes up with any number of reasons as to why they might have killed Vivien, whilst still wondering if it was perhaps a suicide.  At different points in the book I thought each one of them could have done it; Ben the husband; Rose the mother; and stalker/femme fatale Cleo - slipping too easily into a dead woman's still warm shoes.  I frequently alternated between murder and suicide as Vivien's mental state is explored.

The story is written from the point of view of Rose, Vivien's mother.  Vivien and Rose didn't have a good relationship and I felt that Rose tried to compensate for this by her emotional attachments to the babies she looks after in the intensive care ward.  Rose also tries to make up for her failings with Vivien by trying to be a grandmother to Lexi, Vivien's daughter whom she has hardly seen since she was born.  I really felt for Rose - she had made mistakes in the past and I hoped she would get the opportunity to right her wrongs.

Forget Me Not is a superb book that really kept on my toes trying to work out what had happened and I would never have guessed the ending in a million years.  

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

My rating:

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The Other Side of the World - Stephanie Bishop

Cambridge 1963. Charlotte struggles to reconnect with the woman she was before children, and to find the time and energy to paint. Her husband, Henry, cannot face the thought of another English winter. A brochure slipped through the letterbox gives him the answer: 'Australia brings out the best in you'.

Charlotte is too worn out to resist, and before she knows it is travelling to the other side of the world. But on their arrival in Perth, the southern sun shines a harsh light on both Henry and Charlotte and slowly reveals that their new life is not the answer either was hoping for. Charlotte is left wondering if there is anywhere she belongs, and how far she'll go to find her way home...

What did I think?

This book was so vivid I felt I was there in the stormy tempestuous English countryside and the sticky hot Australian sun.  The passages involving the children were so clear and emotional that I did gasp out loud on several occasions, especially the part about the untangling of Lucie's hair where I felt every brush stroke and heard every scream.

I can understand why Henry wanted to leave England, with the cold and damp causing health problems for his children, and it was easier for him as he was originally from India.  Charlotte, however, had roots in England - it was and always would be her home, but to keep the peace she agreed to emigrate to Australia.

At the start of the book, Charlotte finds out that she is pregnant with May.  She's not overjoyed at the news as she never really bonded with Lucie.  I found her quite detached at times, a little bit unhinged and perhaps suffering from post-natal depression but her actions started to become more disturbing as time went on.  She didn't seem to be cut out to be a mother and, suffering from homesickness, can't stop thinking about returning home to England.  A dream that does become a reality, at a startling cost.

Henry seems oblivious to Charlotte's suffering, in fact he seems oblivious to everything including the fact that he is not white.  The racism is cleverly hidden by the perpetrators as they dole out their injustices and Henry's Australian dream doesn't live up to the description in the brochure.

It's a really interesting book about fitting in to a new place of work, a new country or even within your own family.  It's beautifully written and did pull at my heartstrings, despite my disappointment in Charlotte's decisions.

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

My rating:

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