BLOG TOUR: The Last Lifeboat - Hazel Gaynor

September 1940. 

In the immediate aftermath of a U-boat attack on an evacuee ship, one lifeboat of terrified  survivors endures a fierce storm in the Atlantic. 

May 1940. 

Four months earlier, two very different women – Alice King, a teacher, and Lily Nicholls, a young  widow- confront life-changing choices as Britain prepares for German invasion and the  devastating Blitz bombing raids begin. 

In Kent, Alice sees a chance to play a part in the war and volunteers as an escort on the ‘seavac’  ships; in London Lily faces the agonizing decision of whether to keep her children with her as  the Blitz begins, or send them to safety in Canada. 

The dramatic events of one fateful night in the mid-Atlantic, and the eight unimaginable days  that follow, bind the two women together in the most devastating way…

 

What did I think?

The Last Lifeboat should be printed with reinforced waterproof pages as I wasn't just virtually gripped, I was physically gripping the pages as I willed the survivors to hang on.  I was completely moved throughout and I was completely overcome with emotion as I turned the final page and audibly exclaimed: 'That was fantastic'.

This heartbreaking historical fiction novel is based on a true story and, although I had heard of children being evacuated to the countryside during World War II, I don't recall hearing about them being shipped to Canada, America and Australia.  Even more shocking then, is never learning about the sinking of the SS City of Benares by a German torpedo in the Atlantic.  Hazel Gaynor puts that right by bringing this haunting story to light.

I lived and breathed every second of this book and I felt a complete wealth of emotions as I experienced the war from various perspectives.  From the difficult decisions made by parents to send their children so far away to the fear of the nightly bombing and hoping that their children were safe.  It must have been so difficult for all concerned and it completely broke me as I experienced every emotion with them.

Devastatingly breathtaking, incredibly poignant and completely stunning, The Last Lifeboat is a beautiful written haunting novel that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page and dried your tears.  I will certainly never forget it and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes one of my most recommended books; I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Irish Times bestselling author of historical fiction, including her debut The Girl Who Came Home, for which she received the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter was shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown award, and The Bird in the Bamboo Cage was shortlisted for the 2020 Irish Book Awards. She is published in twenty languages and twenty-seven countries. Hazel lives in Kildare with her family.

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BLOG TOUR: The Curfew - T.M. Logan

 

I should have known something was wrong. I should have sensed it. Felt it in the air, like the build-up of pressure before a thunderstorm, that heavy, loaded calm.

The curfew

Andy and Laura are good parents. They tell their son Connor that he can go out with friends to celebrate completing his exams, but he must be home by midnight.

The lie

When Connor misses his curfew, it sets off a series of events that will change the lives of five families forever.

The truth?

Because five teenagers went into the woods that night, but only four came out. And telling the truth might mean losing everything...

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What did I think?

I always get excited when I see a new T.M. Logan book being published as all his novels are completely compelling and The Curfew is no exception.  Clear your schedule when you pick this one up as you won't be able to put it down!

Like many parents of teenagers, Andy Boyd can't completely fall asleep until he knows that his 16 year old son, Connor, is home safe.  Connor's curfew is midnight so he must be home when Andy wakes up at 3am, but Andy can't relax until he looks into Connor's room and thinks he sees him tucked up in bed.  The following day becomes every parent's worst nightmare when one of Connor's school friends goes missing but Connor was home by midnight...wasn't he?

Ooooh you can't help but read this book wondering what you would do in the same situation.  Andy and Laura Boyd have every faith in their son but they don't actually know where he was at midnight so it's either stupid or incredibly trusting to tell the police that Connor was at home.  Connor is clearly hiding something and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what.

Although the story centres around Connor, it is his 12 year old sister, Harriet, who turned out to be my favourite character.  She's like a cross between Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory and Chloe from 24; incredibly intelligent and a tech wizard who naturally doesn't fit in with the normal kids at school.  Who wants to be normal anyway?  The character development is stunning and they're described so vividly that they virtually pop out of the page.

T.M. Logan has done it again!  The Curfew is a gripping, compulsive and nail-biting thriller that is as impossible to predict as it is to put down.  I certainly missed my reading curfew when reading just one more chapter turned into five more chapters.  Don't miss this one!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Behind Closed Doors - Catherine Alliott

 

When Lucy is unexpectedly widowed, she doesn't know where to turn.

She seeks refuge with her elderly parents in Oxfordshire, hoping for an escape from past memories - and from her overbearing sister-in-law.

But she gets much more than she bargained for when she returns home. Her parents' bungalow is falling apart, and their surprisingly busy social life throws her in the path of an old childhood friend she hasn't seen for decades.

Yet as Lucy begins to move on, others start to ask questions.

Is she running away from her grief? Or did she leave something far worse behind . . .

What did I think?

I haven't read as many Catherine Alliott books as I would like but reading Behind Closed Doors reminded me what a fabulous author she is.  Do not let the beautiful cover mislead you into thinking that this will be a slow-paced, gentle read as this compelling, thought-provoking family drama is incredibly difficult to put down.

Laced with humour from the start, I tittered and chortled most of my way through the book but make no mistake, there are some very serious elements to the storyline.  Lucy, unexpectedly finding herself widowed, moves back home to live with her elderly parents and finds that everything isn't as rosy as they have been painting it.  I think love for our family makes it very difficult to see what is going on right in front of us especially when our loved ones tend to put on a show to hide things from us.

I absolutely loved Lucy's parents; their whole day revolves around gin o'clock and it's no wonder these octogenarians are so sprightly as they're practically pickled.  The antics of them and their equally naughty friends provides endless entertainment and I could have read a whole novel just about them.  It makes a lovely contrast to Lucy's story which is cast in shadow following the loss of her husband.

Lucy's story is absolutely brilliant and makes the title of the book very apt.  Nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors and it's frightening to think about what people may be hiding from their friends and family.  We may see things that we think are none of our business but it's made me think that it's perhaps better to be seen as an interfering busybody than to turn a blind eye.  

Hugely entertaining and completely compelling, Behind Closed Doors is a wonderfully warm and engaging novel with family at its heart.  I loved it and it's definitely made me want to read more Catherine Alliott books as soon as I can.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Curious Case of Faith & Grace - David B. Lyons

The damppebbles blog tours Blog Tour for The Curious Case of Faith & Grace by David B. Lyons is visiting my blog today and I'm releasing my review as part of the tour.  This is my first David B. Lyons book and it definitely won't be my last.  It's an absolute cracker!  Scroll down to read my review of this outstanding book.

Pretty... or pretty twisted?

ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO FAITH AND GRACE TIDDLE ARRIVED HOME FROM THEIR USUAL SATURDAY MORNING DANCE CLASS TO FIND BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS FACE DOWN IN POOLS OF BLOOD.

Five days later, the twins — only nine years old at the time — were arrested for the double homicide.

And now, twenty months on, the entire country awaits with bated breath as the jury are dismissed to deliberate their verdict on a case that has become a national phenomenon.

But if Lead Detective Denis Quayle — the man who knows the case better than anybody else — isn’t fully convinced of the twins’ guilt…

Can a twelve-person jury be?

GET READY TO EXPLORE…

THE CURIOUS CASE OF FAITH & GRACE

What did I think?

If you like thrillers set in the courtroom then The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is definitely the book for you.  I love virtually going to court so I was riveted from start to finish at the trial of 11 year old twins Faith & Grace Tiddle.  With a creepy cover that makes the twins from The Shining look like sweet little angels, David B. Lyons lets us examine the evidence to decide whether the Tiddle twins are angels or devils.

It seems inconceivable that two 9 year old twins could murder their parents and then calmly trot off to dance class, but this is what the prosecution would have us believe.  It is such a heinous crime that the case is being brought before Dublin's Criminal Court where a jury of 12 adults will deliberate the verdict.  With all but the lead detective on the case convinced of the twins' guilt, it should be an easy decision for the jurors to make...but one of them is being blackmailed.  If the twins are convicted her life will be destroyed.

What an excellent storyline; not only do you have the very intriguing murder case but the blackmailing of the juror took the story to another level.  I loved reading the deliberations of the jury and the counter-arguments that were being put forth to save the juror's own skin.  I really liked Detective Denis Quayle; he has his own personal problems but he never stopped believing in the twins and I loved how he fought to hold onto the case when a neighbouring station tried to take over.

With only two choices: guilty or not guilty, I must have changed my mind hundreds of times over the course of the book.  Creepy, chilling and compelling, The Curious Case of Faith & Grace is an outstanding novel that I won't forget in a hurry.  Very highly recommended.

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:

David B. Lyons is an international bestselling author -- a writer of psychological thrillers.

He has reached No.1 in charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.

David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.

He has lectured in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK and coaches people how to write with free tutorials at TheOpenAuthor.com.

You can connect with David here:

Website: TheOpenAuthor.com

Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor

Facebook: AuthorDavidBLyons

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BLOG TOUR: The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost - Jamie Adams

It's a slight digression from crime fiction on this damppebbles Blog Tour today with my review of The Fathers, The Sons and the Anxious Ghost by Jamie Adams.  

Three guys in their thirties have something in common. Their children all go to the same school. One day a tragic event leads to them having to deal with a lurking aftermath which draws them into each other's lives and causes them to rethink their attitudes to just about everything. The children tell the second part of this story, ten years after the initial events. The dust seems to have settled until one of them uncovers information that throws everything back into chaos. The third part… well that will have to wait.

What did I think?

It was a nice change to read a novella with The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost being only 90 pages long and taking around 1 hour to read.  Don't mistake it for a shallow light read though as Jamie Adams has packed a lot of story into these few pages, so it's very much a case of quality over quantity.  

It took me a little while to get used to the lack of contractions in the book, for example using 'I am' instead of 'I'm'.  I found it a bit odd, especially in speech, but I soon got used to it and attributed it to a little quirk of the book.  The book is written in 3 parts; I'm sure you'll be able to guess the parts from the title of the book.  They are all linked and come together very nicely at the end, leaving me with a little lump in my throat.

I felt there were some very strong messages in this book regarding mental health and bullying but I did have to give myself a virtual smack for jumping to conclusions.  I've always said that there are two sides to every story but for some reason I saw one side of the story in The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost and pinned my colours to that mast.  Thank you Jamie Adams for reminding me that not everything is as it may first appear.

A little book with a big message, The Fathers, the Sons and the Anxious Ghost is a very thought-provoking book that I really enjoyed.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Waterstones
WHSmith
Foyles
Hive



About the author:

Jamie is a teacher who has studied a geography degree back in the nineties because of his love of nature and the outdoors. He found environmental education especially important and soon became a teacher for the primary-age group. Jamie enjoys reading and watching all kinds of theatre productions, from high dramas to lively musicals. His love of writing shines through in everything he does.

After writing a group of short stories linked to romance, which he published as ‘Short Dates’ independently, he decided to write a novella centred around topical issues such as mental health, parenting and relationships.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieAdStories Website: http://jamieadstories.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Adams/e/B07C642RJZ/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

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BLOG TOUR: Nightmare Scenario - Hazel Clarke

Eighteen-year-old Gracie Thrace has a secret. 

Four months ago she started to hear voices that force her to carry out frightening scenarios. With her father abroad and her relationship with her high-powered mother strained, Gracie has no one to turn to for solace. 

When a new voice called Kai materialises, Gracie finds herself attached to his kindness. Kai offers the support Gracie craves, but how can she possibly let herself fall for someone who isn't real? 

Set in 2047 London, Nightmare Scenario is a complex and touching love story that explores the stigma around mental illness and offers a daunting prediction of the future where technology infiltrates every part of society.

What did I think?

Set in a future where I'll be 73 years old, if I'm still alive, Nightmare Scenario is something a little outside my comfort zone and I chose to read it to support Mental Health Awareness Week.  I have been flirting with the dystopian and fantasy genres recently and now having read Nightmare Scenario, I'm fully committed to exploring more from these genres as I absolutely loved it.  Yay!  More books to add to my TBR!

I loved the character of 18 year old Gracie Thrace, a young woman just starting university and living in a day and age where android housemaids are commonplace in many households.  Gracie doesn't have much of a family life; her father is very absent, as he fights terrorism abroad, and her mother is a prominent figure in the most successful company in the world, IrukaTech.  IrukaTech make and control the Hourglasses that are permanently installed on wrists of every citizen.  Hourglasses are multi-functional devices like a mobile phone; they are a flashlight, a phone and a tracking device.  Whereas we can choose who can track us on our mobile phones, the police and IrukaTech can track every single person in 2047 and that's not the only level of control they are applying.  

A mind altering drug called Hydrobliss is being tested and has secretly been given to four human test subjects.  The drug causes schizophrenia and voices in your head that create challenges called nightmare scenarios that must be completed every single night at sunset.  The Hydrobliss subjects are unaware that this is an IrukaTech experiment so you never know who might be watching and taking notes.

Gracie hears three voices in her head: Psyche, Eros and Terry (I'm not sure where Terry comes from but Psyche and Eros are from Greek mythology).  I love this homage to Greek mythology where Psyche had to complete challenges to win back her husband, Eros (aka Cupid in classical mythology).  The introduction of a fourth voice throws Gracie into turmoil as she falls in love with Kai, a voice who seems to be completely on her side unlike the mischievous and sadistic other three.  How can you have feelings for a voice in your head?  Hold that thought, as I have a feeling it will come back into play in the next instalment of the Scenario Series.

Wow!  Just WOW!  I abso-blooming-lutely loved this book!  Hazel Clarke takes the reader on quite a scary ride in her inventive, imaginative, thought provoking and scarily realistic debut.  A cross between The Hunger Games and 1984, Nightmare Scenario is set to be an absolute classic.  It is such a stunning, visionary book and I am totally gobsmacked that Hazel Clarke wrote this when she was 19 years old.  I'm a little torn between wanting to find out what happens next and leaving it at its pretty perfect ending, but who am I kidding?  I will definitely be first in the queue for Book 2.  A very highly recommended read, even if it's not a book you would usually pick up.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




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BLOG TOUR: Only One Woman - Christina Jones & Jane Risdon

Two women, one love story. June 1968. Renza falls head over heels for heartthrob guitarist Scott. But after a romantic summer together they are torn apart when Renza’s family moves away. December 1968. On the night she believes to be her last, Stella meets Scott at a local dance. He’s the most beautiful boy she’s ever seen and if this one night is all they have, she’ll take it. As the final colourful year of the sixties dawns, the question is: can there be only one woman for Scott?

What did I think?

Well, before reading Only One Woman I thought almost 500 pages for chicklit was FAR too long, but in this case it was definitely not long enough!  Oh, how I wanted to continue the story of Renza, Stella and Scott, even though I had already read 500 pages of their story;  I was left begging and thirsty for more!

I admit to feeling a little bit daunted that this book was so huge on my kindle, but once I started it I really didn't want it to end.  The story of Renza falling in love with guitarist, Scott, was so sweet and heartrending that I fell in love with the couple myself.  So when Renza moved to Germany and Stella came on the scene to threaten the perfect life we had built for Renza and Scott, I felt my heckles rise and I SO wanted to hate her, but I didn't.  I felt like Scott; how could I love two women when only one can ever win?

This was SO very cleverly written in the form of diary entries.  We are introduced to teenager, Renza, falling in love for the first time with band-member Scott.  She is so sweet and innocent, but when she moves to Germany it isn't long before Scott's roving eye finds another target.  Don't get me wrong, Scott isn't looking to replace Renza but there's something so very special about Stella, which is why I couldn't hate her!  I really defy anyone to pin their colours to any one mast - Renza and Stella are both so very special and, through the marvellous writing of Christina Jones and Jane Risdon, we get to know them as if they are part of ourselves.

I absolutely adore the sixties vibe that was so cleverly woven throughout this book.  I found myself humming the tunes that were mentioned and felt as if I had been transported to the colourful sixties era.  The insecurities of new love were laid out in full view via diary entries from Renza and Stella, and I felt as if I was there reading the pages over their shoulder.  Oh, how I longed for one or the other to conquer Scott's heart but, at the same time, I didn't want the other to lose.  I don't think I can ever successfully describe the conflict going on in my head as I raced through this epic swinging sixties novel.  When there are two people you love and one of them has to lose, how on earth can you choose?

What a glorious technicolour ride this was: Only One Woman manages to make the reader fall in love with two women and I really felt as if I should be able to choose between them, but I simply couldn't!  I honestly believe that every reader will want both women to get their man, so to which mast will you pin your colours?  Renza or Stella?  YOU DECIDE!

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon


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Shadows on the Nile - Kate Furnivall

'I'll find him. I will.'

It's 1932 and 27-year-old Jessica is living London life to the full when her younger brother Tim, an ancient Egyptian archaeology expert, goes missing. Teaming up with Sir Montague Chamford - who can resist neither a damsel in distress nor the chance of adventure - Jessie vows to find her beloved brother.

Following the clues Tim has left in his wake, Jessie and Monty head to Egypt. In the relentless heat of the desert, romance is kindled between them, but danger also lurks in every shadow. And then Jessie starts to wonder how much Monty really knows about her brother's disappearance . . .

A dramatic story of adventure, excitement, love and romance can all be found in the SHADOWS ON THE NILE

What did I think?

After immensely enjoying Kate Furnivall's The Liberation and checking out her back catalogue, I added Shadows on the Nile to my wishlist, as I have a keen interest in Egyptian history.  I recently popped into my local library and the breathtaking cover of Shadows on the Nile was shining in front of my eyes like the golden rays of the sun god Ra.  So I put my feet up with a nice glass of wine and prepared to be whisked away to Egypt.

With a dramatic, heart-wrenching first chapter, the story starts in 1912 with 7 year old Jessica being awoken by a noise in the night followed by a frightened squeal from her little brother.  Waking up the next day, it's as if events of the previous night never happened and Jessica's life continues as normal.  Fast forward to 1932 when Jessica's brother, Tim, goes missing after attending a séance.  Jessica follows Tim's trail to the location of the séance and meets Sir Montague Chamford.  Monty joins Jessie in her search for Tim and I was quite suspicious of his motivations - what is he hiding or what doesn't he want Jessie to find?

Whereas we would hop on a plane, Jessie and Monty have an 80 hour journey across Europe to Cairo.  This is where Kate Furnivall excels in her writing: the sights, sounds, smells, heat and dust of Cairo are described in such exquisite detail that you feel as if you are there.  I have been to Cairo before so my imagination does have a head start, but it really is exactly as Kate Furnivall describes it.  The golden glint of Tutankhamun's death mask and the majesty of the pyramids are truly brought to life in Shadows of the Nile.

Jessie's family history plays a massive part in the story, but I can't say too much without spoiling it for others.  Suffice to say, Jessie's search for Tim leads to a confrontation with the past, a past that may have been buried but history has shown us that so many well buried secrets are unearthed in Egypt.

Another superbly atmospheric story from Kate Furnivall that swept me away to the Nile valley.  Through her breathtakingly beautiful prose, Kate Furnivall paints a stunning and vivid picture of this incredible ancient country.  This is historical fiction at its finest and I highly recommend Kate Furnivall's books.

I borrowed this book from my local library and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Do Not Become Alarmed - Maile Meloy

When Liv and Nora decide to take their husbands and children on a holiday cruise, everyone is thrilled. The ship's comforts and possibilities seem infinite. But when they all go ashore in beautiful Central America, a series of minor mishaps lead the families further from the ship's safety.

One minute the children are there, and the next they're gone.

What follows is a heart-racing story told from the perspectives of the adults and the children, as the distraught parents - now turning on one another and blaming themselves - try to recover their children and their shattered lives.

What did I think?

I was really looking forward to reading this one so I jumped right in as if I was diving into the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.  It sounds gripping and intriguing from the excellent strapline: The sun is shining, the sea is blue, the children have disappeared... So what's it all about?  A question I ask myself now even though I have read it.  Seriously, what's it all about?

Liv and Nora are cousins who are as close as sisters.  They decide to spend the Christmas holidays on board a luxury cruise liner with their husbands and children.  The guys go off to play golf as the women and children go on an excursion with a guide from the ship.  On the way to the zip wire excursion, the minibus gets a flat tyre but the guide, Pedro, knows of a little secluded bay nearby where they can all relax and have fun.

The children play in the water while Nora goes off exploring in the bush with Pedro and Liv falls asleep after having a drink of Pedro's potent cocktail.  The dream holiday soon turns into a nightmare when Liv wakes up to find the children missing.  20% in to the book and so far so good.  Why did Nora go into the bush with Pedro?  Did he drug Liv?  What has he got to do with the children's disappearance?

Normally at this point I say that all my questions were answered but unfortunately this wasn't the case in this instance.  Once the children disappeared, I kept waiting for something to happen.  They didn't actually disappear as such because we follow what they're up to while their parents plead for their safe return.  As I got closer and closer to the end, I was waiting for the big 'A-HA! I knew he/she was dodgy' moment but when it didn't materialise it left me feeling rather flat.  Perhaps I am too used to 'the twist' and the 'big reveal' type of books to appreciate a slow burner these days.

An interesting premise but one that didn't really deliver for me.  I found the characters a bit flat and uninteresting but the missing children storyline did keep the pages turning at a steady pace.  I was left feeling rather confused about the dual storyline, that of a young girl travelling across country to New York with her uncle.  It just seemed quite unnecessary as it didn't seem to add anything to the story, for me anyway.

A good book to take on holiday to read around the pool, or to take on a cruise - just don't go on any excursions and keep an eye on your kids!

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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The Morning After Memoirs - Kate Michaels

A smart, irreverent slant on modern dating, Kate Michaels’ sexy, laugh-out-loud debut reimagines the world of Sex And The City with the biting realism of Lena Dunham’s Girls. Twenty-nine-year-old Jess wakes up on New Year’s Day a touch hungover and a whole lot confused. The man in bed next to her is not her boyfriend, Ben. In fact, she doesn’t even remember Not-Ben’s name. It won’t be the first time she finds herself in a questionable situation in a year that proves her new single-in-the-city lifestyle is far from the glamorous, Sex And The City world she’s been promised on TV. Between hacking through last year’s leg hair, accidentally snogging someone who may well be her cousin, getting hit over the head with a sex toy that isn’t even hers, and ending the night with a walk of shame into her parent’s garage, Jess’s single life is turning out more cockroaches than cocktails. The Morning After Memoirs is the story of one woman’s search for love, meaning, and a low-calorie alternative to wine.

What did I think?

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end.  It was written with so much underlying humour and I frequently laughed out loud at not only the antics of Jess but also of her parents.  I chortled, guffawed, and giggled my way through it in no time at all - leaving me wanting more!

I had an instant affinity with Jess as she gives names to people like I do (Not-Ben, Hot Waiter Number Two, Tweedledum and Tweedledumber) and even used one of my frequent phrases - stranger danger!  Jess was an immediately likeable character because she's not perfect and seemed a bit clueless - a bit more Bridget Jones than Carrie Bradshaw, but a perfect mix between the two.  She's a normal girl who makes mistakes and struggles with her weight like most normal people - there's an extremely amusing reference to fat jeans!  Amusing to those of us with said fat jeans at the bottom of our wardrobe, or not so amusing to those of us with them on our bottoms!

The book starts and ends at consecutive New Years with a hilarious look at a year in the life of Jess in between.  Jess goes through a breakup, moves house, finds a new job and turns 30 - all with very amusing results.  I liked how every time a new character is introduced they get a dating website style mini bio, often with irrelevant information but that's what makes it funny.  Chris - 5ft 8", brown eyes, likes pugs...nope, Jess doesn't have a pug!

In my opinion, this was better than Bridget Jones' Diary as it was more realistic and completely my brand of humour.  This ain't chicklit, it's so much better - a funny, sassy look at the life of a modern woman living in London.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't a comedy but with so many water bombs of comedic excellence dropped in, it was definitely a 5 star read.

A great read for Bridget Jones and Sex and the City fans or anyone who's ever bought an exercise dvd and sat on the sofa to watch it!

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

My rating:

You really must buy this book! Head over to Amazon now!

All My Secrets - Sophie McKenzie

Synopsis:

The shocking reality behind a £10 million inheritance turns Evie Brown's world on its head. Unable to find out the truth from her parents, Evie ends up on the mysterious island of Lightsea, where her desire for answers leads her towards a series of revelations that threaten everything she holds dear . . . including her life.

What did I think?

I haven't read a YA title for a while and this one sounded quite intriguing.

Evie gets a bombshell dropped on her when she finds out that her Mum is not her biological Mum.  Her life spirals out of control and she is sent to Lightsea island with other troubled teens.  There she meets the obligatory love interest and has the dilemma of choosing between two boys while fighting for survival.

I'm not really sure what to make of this book.  The two boys fighting over Evie is reminiscent of the Hunger Games.  The whole story has a Scooby Doo or Famous Five type feel to it but I didn't really warm to the characters.  The story itself wasn't bad, I did guess who was ultimately behind putting Evie's life in danger but his accomplice was a surprise.  I enjoyed the part about her relationship with her parents and her ultimate appreciation of them at the end did bring tears to my eyes.

For fans of YA, this is a good read and I will read Girl, Missing if I come across it in the library.

I won this title in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

My rating:

Buy from the Book Depository
Buy from Amazon.