*Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
'Fairytale Beginnings' is Holly Martin's 8th novel and one I've been eager to read ever since I found out she was writing it. Following Holly on twitter is certainly one great joy, she's one of the nicest and coolest people on twitter, always ready to make you laugh. She's also one of the most respected authors which I follow, well known for her big heart and genuine relationship with book bloggers. Having all this said, no wonder I'm looking forward to each of her releases. Beside writing contemporary romance, she's also published two fantasy novels and two more steamy, adult novels under the pen name Amelia Thorn. It's obvious Holly is multi talented and these transitions in genres come very easy to her.
'Fairytale Beginnings' is definitely a cute story. I even tweeted to Holly saying I want to adopt her (age is just a number, right?) because lately I've been feeling kind of down and was in terrible need of some good laughs. And yes, there were some memorable, LOL moments in this novel and I had the feeling I'll end up competely loving it. But as you can see from my rating, some things went wrong. Don't worry, I'll explain it though, trying to write the most balanced and honest review I can, because while this book had it flaws, it certainly had some unique moments too.
The book really read like a fairytale, just like the title suggests. But a very modern fairytale with some adult content, so a fair warning to those who're bit prudish. It's the story of Milly who's off to Clover Castle to estimate it's value and origins and see if her company is willing to help the Lord bring back the castle to all it's glory, like it has seen in the old days. She's very good and efficient worker, never lazy or too proud to get her hands dirty. She's definitely excited to the start of her research, but what she wasn't ready for it to discover the owner is so young and damn hot. Scorching hot as a matter of fact! Haunted by ghosts, family secrets and now, this awesome, hot guy, will Milly stick to being professional or give in to Castle's beauty and charm?
As I said in my review previously, there were some amazing moments which I read with great pleasure, and there were some that left me puzzled, not sure what to make out of them. The first half of the book was for me just amazing. I liked Milly so much, I honestly thought she's the most awesome romance heroine. My opinion didn't change even in the second half, but there were some weird moments I was kind of surprised with her reactions. Still, Milly is adorable, though to be completely honest, at times she did act too childish even though she's 28/29 years old. Nothing wrong in being childish, especially when you feel those butterflies in your stomach, however it seemed to me she gave in too early and easily despite saying she 'was burned' in life before. It did feel a bit surreal to me, but it could be me and my 36 years who look on things from different perspective than younger population. Speaking of age, Cameron Heartstone, the owner of the Castle and fameous writer is 34 and yet he too seems childish at times. They've both been very hurt in the past in their relationships, yet they sure let things happen rather soon.
Believe it or not, I do believe in love at first sight and Milly's and Cameron's chemistry is undeniable. It's like..electricity, so raw and powerful. This is what I enjoyed the most, their chemistry which made me feel of fuzzy inside. However, some things felt a bit rushed and I wish Holly made her characters take things more slowly. But their banters, they were super cute and hilarious. Despite knowing each other for such a short time, Milly and Cameron really enjoy each other's company and are definitely comfortable around each other. This might seem weird to some readers, however I didn't mind the whole 'grabbing boob and talking about willies' all in a span of just few short days. But what I did mind was that weird ceremony they hold each year during Summer Solstice. I won't tell you why, you'll have to read it for yourself. I'm no prude, but I didn't expect to find these parts in a book like this. It just seemed wrong for this story, you know. At least, that's what I think.
But the romance part was amazing! I do believe this is Holly Martin's strongest feat as a writer, she really knows how to deliver a hot, steamy and mind blowing sex scene without going very explicit. Everything felt natural and tasteful. However, my biggest problem and main reason for the rating is the mystery element which was a bit disappointing. Despite simply flying through this book, I wasn't really hooked on the history and origins of the Castle or the legends of the Heartstone family. Some parts felt dragging and others were simply rushed, and I won't lie, I was kind of lost at times thinking where the story might go. Uncle Boris' treasure, the secret coves, the Grey Lady, it all seems blurry to me, even moments after finishing this book. But the romance part is just amazing! Mind blowing! I really enjoyed those parts and think Holly Martin shows her amazing talent in these very scenes.
I'm glad I read it and I certainly enjoyed the romance. I was never a Disney princess, always were more of a tomboy, but I certainly enjoyed being in this fairytale. It is definitely an easy read you'll devour in one or two sittings.
*Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
'Fairytale Beginnings' is Holly Martin's 8th novel and one I've been eager to read ever since I found out she was writing it. Following Holly on twitter is certainly one great joy, she's one of the nicest and coolest people on twitter, always ready to make you laugh. She's also one of the most respected authors which I follow, well known for her big heart and genuine relationship with book bloggers. Having all this said, no wonder I'm looking forward to each of her releases. Beside writing contemporary romance, she's also published two fantasy novels and two more steamy, adult novels under the pen name Amelia Thorn. It's obvious Holly is multi talented and these transitions in genres come very easy to her.
'Fairytale Beginnings' is definitely a cute story. I even tweeted to Holly saying I want to adopt her (age is just a number, right?) because lately I've been feeling kind of down and was in terrible need of some good laughs. And yes, there were some memorable, LOL moments in this novel and I had the feeling I'll end up competely loving it. But as you can see from my rating, some things went wrong. Don't worry, I'll explain it though, trying to write the most balanced and honest review I can, because while this book had it flaws, it certainly had some unique moments too.
The book really read like a fairytale, just like the title suggests. But a very modern fairytale with some adult content, so a fair warning to those who're bit prudish. It's the story of Milly who's off to Clover Castle to estimate it's value and origins and see if her company is willing to help the Lord bring back the castle to all it's glory, like it has seen in the old days. She's very good and efficient worker, never lazy or too proud to get her hands dirty. She's definitely excited to the start of her research, but what she wasn't ready for it to discover the owner is so young and damn hot. Scorching hot as a matter of fact! Haunted by ghosts, family secrets and now, this awesome, hot guy, will Milly stick to being professional or give in to Castle's beauty and charm?
As I said in my review previously, there were some amazing moments which I read with great pleasure, and there were some that left me puzzled, not sure what to make out of them. The first half of the book was for me just amazing. I liked Milly so much, I honestly thought she's the most awesome romance heroine. My opinion didn't change even in the second half, but there were some weird moments I was kind of surprised with her reactions. Still, Milly is adorable, though to be completely honest, at times she did act too childish even though she's 28/29 years old. Nothing wrong in being childish, especially when you feel those butterflies in your stomach, however it seemed to me she gave in too early and easily despite saying she 'was burned' in life before. It did feel a bit surreal to me, but it could be me and my 36 years who look on things from different perspective than younger population. Speaking of age, Cameron Heartstone, the owner of the Castle and fameous writer is 34 and yet he too seems childish at times. They've both been very hurt in the past in their relationships, yet they sure let things happen rather soon.
Believe it or not, I do believe in love at first sight and Milly's and Cameron's chemistry is undeniable. It's like..electricity, so raw and powerful. This is what I enjoyed the most, their chemistry which made me feel of fuzzy inside. However, some things felt a bit rushed and I wish Holly made her characters take things more slowly. But their banters, they were super cute and hilarious. Despite knowing each other for such a short time, Milly and Cameron really enjoy each other's company and are definitely comfortable around each other. This might seem weird to some readers, however I didn't mind the whole 'grabbing boob and talking about willies' all in a span of just few short days. But what I did mind was that weird ceremony they hold each year during Summer Solstice. I won't tell you why, you'll have to read it for yourself. I'm no prude, but I didn't expect to find these parts in a book like this. It just seemed wrong for this story, you know. At least, that's what I think.
But the romance part was amazing! I do believe this is Holly Martin's strongest feat as a writer, she really knows how to deliver a hot, steamy and mind blowing sex scene without going very explicit. Everything felt natural and tasteful. However, my biggest problem and main reason for the rating is the mystery element which was a bit disappointing. Despite simply flying through this book, I wasn't really hooked on the history and origins of the Castle or the legends of the Heartstone family. Some parts felt dragging and others were simply rushed, and I won't lie, I was kind of lost at times thinking where the story might go. Uncle Boris' treasure, the secret coves, the Grey Lady, it all seems blurry to me, even moments after finishing this book. But the romance part is just amazing! Mind blowing! I really enjoyed those parts and think Holly Martin shows her amazing talent in these very scenes.
I'm glad I read it and I certainly enjoyed the romance. I was never a Disney princess, always were more of a tomboy, but I certainly enjoyed being in this fairytale. It is definitely an easy read you'll devour in one or two sittings....more
*Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
'This whole industry is built on s Originally posted on This Chick Reads
*Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
'This whole industry is built on scandalous lies, so what's new?'
News is I've read a bonkbuster and I liked it, I liked it a lot! After years of avoiding books with explicit sex scenes I actually read a bonkbuster and I enjoyed every second of it. Obviously I don't have a problem with contemporary romance with lots of sex in it, however I've been reading the wrong books thinking all bonkbusters are crap. But Nigel May proved me wrong, he actually proved to me I can enjoy a hot, steamy sex scene as long as it's good written. And seriously, Mr May can write a bloody damn good sex scene (fair warning though, bit kinky at times)! I see the whole 'Grey' craze and the buzz around EL James's books and get sick at the thought of so many people thinking what she writes is steamy sex. If you don't believe me, you should try this book and see what I'm talking about. Mr May can teach EL James how to write a good sex scene! He bloody owns it!
But in 'Scandalous Lies' there's a good dose of mystery too. In fact, despite the amount of sex in this book, it's the mystery element that drives the plot. A famous couple from UK is missing, last time seen in Hell's Canyon. No one knows the reasons for their disappearance, however they do know Mitzi and Foster are not the suicidal type or type of people someone would hate that much to kill them. The investigations stop soon and seems police has no answers, but Mitzi's friends are still not giving up on her, looking for ways to find her, especially after it was announced that Foster's body was found. They don't believe Mitzi is capable of killing Foster, as she was so in love with the guy.
'Scandalous Lies' introduces us to so many characters and their stories, I admit sometimes I had trouble in keeping track and even wondered what do this characters have in common with Mitzi and her disappearance. However, by the end of the book everything falls into its place and makes perfect sense, giving us the closure we're after.
You know how things are with the celebrities, right? There's a certain cliche in these kind of books, but honestly I don't mind. I do find these books (no matter if they are fiction or memoirs) really fascinating. I'm transported to a world so different from my own, and connecting with this characters is really challenging. But that's what makes these celebrity books full of glamour so fun and special for me.
Sex, scandal, rivalry, filthy rich people, divas, mystery, drama, this book has it all. It's the perfect beach read you will not be able to put down. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5* is the fact that the end seemed bit rushed and with so many characters involved I was lost at times. But still, I was impressed with the mystery element and I couldn't predicted the ending at all.
This is the 3rd book by Mr May, his previous being 'Trinity' and 'Addicted' and seems that some of the characters in 'Scandalous Lies' can also be found in his previous books. I was thrilled to found out about this as I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about Evie, Victoria, Georgia, Nova, Charlie, etc.
Speaking of characters, I loved Georgia and how she doesn't give up on finding her friend. I think I would be slightly more convinced in their genuine friendship if Mr May included more scenes from Georgia and Mitzi's history. But I was still rather pleased with both of these characters, though they are so diverse. I was surprised to find that I liked even Victoria, who's the weakest of them all, and even develops a drug addiction. As I woman, I could feel her pain and fear over losing her family, though I couldn't approve of the way she handles things. But there was a certain balance between the characters, some were striving for perfection and some are too flawed, but I guess everything is possible in the world of stars.
Overall this is a fantastic, easy, light read perfect for relaxing on this heat. Make sure you have the air con on max, because if the heat outside doesn't make you melt, Mr May's writing sure will. I'll definitely be checking out Mr May's other books and will certainly be on a watch out for his next.
*Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
'This whole industry is built on scandalous lies, so what's new?'
News is I've read a bonkbuster and I liked it, I liked it a lot! After years of avoiding books with explicit sex scenes I actually read a bonkbuster and I enjoyed every second of it. Obviously I don't have a problem with contemporary romance with lots of sex in it, however I've been reading the wrong books thinking all bonkbusters are crap. But Nigel May proved me wrong, he actually proved to me I can enjoy a hot, steamy sex scene as long as it's good written. And seriously, Mr May can write a bloody damn good sex scene (fair warning though, bit kinky at times)! I see the whole 'Grey' craze and the buzz around EL James's books and get sick at the thought of so many people thinking what she writes is steamy sex. If you don't believe me, you should try this book and see what I'm talking about. Mr May can teach EL James how to write a good sex scene! He bloody owns it!
But in 'Scandalous Lies' there's a good dose of mystery too. In fact, despite the amount of sex in this book, it's the mystery element that drives the plot. A famous couple from UK is missing, last time seen in Hell's Canyon. No one knows the reasons for their disappearance, however they do know Mitzi and Foster are not the suicidal type or type of people someone would hate that much to kill them. The investigations stop soon and seems police has no answers, but Mitzi's friends are still not giving up on her, looking for ways to find her, especially after it was announced that Foster's body was found. They don't believe Mitzi is capable of killing Foster, as she was so in love with the guy.
'Scandalous Lies' introduces us to so many characters and their stories, I admit sometimes I had trouble in keeping track and even wondered what do this characters have in common with Mitzi and her disappearance. However, by the end of the book everything falls into its place and makes perfect sense, giving us the closure we're after.
You know how things are with the celebrities, right? There's a certain cliche in these kind of books, but honestly I don't mind. I do find these books (no matter if they are fiction or memoirs) really fascinating. I'm transported to a world so different from my own, and connecting with this characters is really challenging. But that's what makes these celebrity books full of glamour so fun and special for me.
Sex, scandal, rivalry, filthy rich people, divas, mystery, drama, this book has it all. It's the perfect beach read you will not be able to put down. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5* is the fact that the end seemed bit rushed and with so many characters involved I was lost at times. But still, I was impressed with the mystery element and I couldn't predicted the ending at all.
This is the 3rd book by Mr May, his previous being 'Trinity' and 'Addicted' and seems that some of the characters in 'Scandalous Lies' can also be found in his previous books. I was thrilled to found out about this as I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about Evie, Victoria, Georgia, Nova, Charlie, etc.
Speaking of characters, I loved Georgia and how she doesn't give up on finding her friend. I think I would be slightly more convinced in their genuine friendship if Mr May included more scenes from Georgia and Mitzi's history. But I was still rather pleased with both of these characters, though they are so diverse. I was surprised to find that I liked even Victoria, who's the weakest of them all, and even develops a drug addiction. As I woman, I could feel her pain and fear over losing her family, though I couldn't approve of the way she handles things. But there was a certain balance between the characters, some were striving for perfection and some are too flawed, but I guess everything is possible in the world of stars.
Overall this is a fantastic, easy, light read perfect for relaxing on this heat. Make sure you have the air con on max, because if the heat outside doesn't make you melt, Mr May's writing sure will. I'll definitely be checking out Mr May's other books and will certainly be on a watch out for his next....more
I am not the biggest fan of series', mainly because after 5 or 6 books it all becomes too much of the same story Originally posted on This Chick Reads
I am not the biggest fan of series', mainly because after 5 or 6 books it all becomes too much of the same story repeated over and over again. It takes an author a great deal of talent and consistency to keep the readers' interest in their characters, and a lot of creativity to surprise with something fresh and new. Especially when you already know the characters so well, you feel them like your besties.
This is however not the case with Angela Marsons' books. If there ever was a series I wish it would never end is the DI Kim series and Dead Memories is the TENTH part of it. Once again, Ms Marsons' proves she owns the scene, she can plot an amazing crime story and take her characters to a whole new and deeper level.
Although due to certain bad situations that happened to me lately, I've been forced to stop blogging and actually skipped reading part 7,8 and 9 of this series, once I started reading Dead Memories it all came back to me, the familiarity of Kim's story, Bryant, Stacey, Woody, and all the other amazing characters that make a great police team. It's like I've never made a pause in reading the series. And while I wish I read them in order, I had no problems in following the story. However, I do recommend reading them in order so you can get a better feel of the characters and follow their evolution, especially when it comes to Kim, the main character.
Speaking of Kim, this book is all about her and her past. Have you noticed that the harder you try to run away from your past, the faster it follows you? Well, some crimes happen and they are so similar to situations that happened in Kim's past (childhood traumas) that she can't help but wonder she's got a nemesis after her. The book starts with a horrific scene of two young people, a young man of 21 and a 20 year old girl tied to a radiator. The boy is dead and the girl is barely alive. Even strong Kim is shaken by the fact that this scene, even the building where the crime happened is like a recreated scene from her past, when she and her brother Mikey were tied just like that by their drugged mother. As in all of Ms Marsons' books, a lot of crimes happen, some seem unrelated to each other but it all comes nicely together by the end. A man is found crushed in a car (Rubik's case) and then a middle aged couple is found burnt in a car. This surely shakes Kim's confidence a bit because that was exactly the way Kim's foster parents died. So, this is obviously not a coincidence and it appears that someone is trying to recreate all of her childhood traumas. But if the killer wants her, why doesn't he get her and just end it. Why bring back all her memories and make other people suffer? There's an awfully long list of suspects who hate Kim enough to be the killer or killers so as they go through the list, seeing them we're reminded of Kim's old cases which appear in the other books in the series (which is why I said it's better to read the books in order). So, who hates Kim's guts and is responsible for the horrific crimes? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out.
As always Ms Marsons' delivers a thrilling and gripping book with twists you won't see coming (I sure didn't). The story will get you hooked from the start and you'll definitely devour it in a few hours. I'm not kidding, this one as all the other books in the series, feel like watching a movie, a great crime/thriller with loads of action and a kick ass heroine. Now that I think of it, this would make such an awesome TV series. Anyway, until that happens I'll definitely be on a watch out for Ms Marsons' next one and I do need to catch up on #7, #8 and #9 in the series and can't wait to read them.
Amazing story, fantastic writing, a kick ass character you'd wish you know in real life (if only), short chapters which will make pages turn. I absolutely loved it! Not that I had any suspicions I would like it less than the others...However, AMAZING read and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! In my head it gets millions of stars! Yup, it's that gripping and brilliant! Make sure you grab it or if you've lived under a rock and have never heard of Ms Marsons...oh make sure you rectify it as soon as possible. ...more
OMG this book reminded me of everything I went through 6 years ago (yup, pregnancy). The sleep deprivation, the cOriginally posted on This Chick Reads
OMG this book reminded me of everything I went through 6 years ago (yup, pregnancy). The sleep deprivation, the change of moods, the bladder ready to explode in the most inappropriate places, the swollen feet (boy, they were HUGE! I swear the last couple of weeks I felt like Bigfoot and I am not kidding). But like everything in life, the package also contains some amazing stuff, happy memories, moments I am so glad this book reminded me of.
The Undercover Mother is Emma Robinson's debut but Emma's been writing on the topic of motherhood with all its ups and downs for a while. She's also a blogger (I just love bloggers turned to authors) on her own blog 'Motherhood for Slackers' (dude, lurve the name!!) and writes humorous blogs, stories and even poems on (yup, you got it) MOTHERHOOD. With such a background it's only normal for The Undercover Mother to be a great and authentic portray of the modern mums of today.
The Undercover Mother tells a story of Jenny, 37 and pregnant with her first child. She works for a magazine, writing a funny and brilliant column on being single in the big city. There's only few minor problems though, she's not single for two years and it's 5 weeks till the birth of her first child. While Jenny does see some changes coming her way, she doesn't expect to be taken off her own column which she writes for a decade and threatened to lose her job just before going on maternity leave. However, she's one smart cookie and at the very last minute comes up with a magnificent plan which will allow her to keep her job and work from home. Thus The Undercover Mother blog is born. However, she's not all by herself on this new venture. She needs an inspiration for her blog and she has no experience whatsoever in being a mum, so she goes to antenatal class where she meets some girls who turn from her 'project' to her new BFFs.
For a comedy you'd expect that everything would be funny and fluffy, but there were a couple of situations that seriously brought a tear to my eye. I won't go into details as not to spoil the story for you, but these four ladies who become Jenny's friends...their stories were so great and added to the main one. I have to admit I wasn't too fond of Jenny at the beginning, because her attempts to make friends with some women at antenatal class felt manipulative to me. She's not subtle either and you know...it just made me dislike a bit. However I am absolutely blown away by the friendship of the girls and just how amazing they are. Though they are so different, they truly are each others' best cheerleaders.
So, this book is not only about motherhood, it goes much much deeper into exploring friendship, who do we turn to when times are hard, how life sometimes amazes us in the best possible way. Sometimes we get blessed with amazing friendships when we least expect it.
While, as I said, I had difficulty in understanding Jenny at the beginning, the story really warmed my heart. The book simply oozes feel good vibes and boy...it really brought a huge smile on my face. In a way, though the story is quite different, it reminded me of Fiona Gibson's books and I sure do love Fiona. Motherhood, the every day problems, the strong bond between real friends... I can see some parallels. Overall, this sure was an interesting read and one with a strong feel good factor. So, if by any chance you're feeling shit (excuse my French. But don't we all sometimes) this book is definitely one to lift your spirit. Due to characters' age and the topic of motherhood in the front, maaaaaaybe it would be most appealing to women, especially new mothers or women in their mid 30s. However, due to that strong feel good factor I mentioned earlier I'm pretty sure anyone can enjoy it. So, if you're looking for an easy and warm read with fantastic cast of characters, this is the book for you....more
It's been far too long since I've read a psychological thriller and SE Lynes' THE PACT reminded me just how much Originally posted on This Chick Reads
It's been far too long since I've read a psychological thriller and SE Lynes' THE PACT reminded me just how much I missed this genre. This is my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last. I remember the buzz on social media last year, when she published "Mother" and I remember thinking, 'now I definitely need to check it out and see why everyone is going crazy about this book''. Now that I actually read THE PACT, I'm definitely bumping her previous thrillers up my TBR list.
THE PACT is a slow-burner, a psychological thriller that will make you wonder and have all these questions in your head. Especially if you're a parent, you'll find it a bit scary and very thought provoking. Now, when I say scary I don't mean the horror/bloody stuff type of scary, but there are some things in this book about raising your kids and the world we live in today that will make you go a bit ga-ga. Or at least make you ask yourself... how well do you know your kids, how much protection is too much and smothering them and how much times have changed for the newer generations.
One thing I loved is that there aren't many characters, there's Toni, her daughter Rosie, and Toni's sister, Bridget. I don't know about you but I really dislike books with tons of characters, especially thrillers where you need to follow hundreds of stories though just maybe 2-3 are relevant. Thankfully, that's not the case with THE PACT. The main story is centered around 15 year old Rosie who's in a coma trying to somehow communicate to her mother and tell her about what happened. The story is told from multiple POVs and I applaud to the author for the knack to switch between these characters and their stories without losing my attention. It all somehow flowed and I had no troubles with it. But in the back, there's another story, it goes way back to when Toni and Bridget were kids and they made a pact not to reveal a certain thing about their past. Don't you just love books about family secrets? I don't know about you but I certainly love them.
Rosie is a normal teenager and has wishes most teenagers do. But her mother is overprotective and doesn't let her do anything fun. Rosie's friends seem to have a busy social life while she's allowed to go out on her birthday only if accompanied by her aunt, Bridget. Which she loves, but still she feels a bit suffocated by her mother's rules.
Human psyche is a fascinating thing, the soul might heal a bit but the mind always remembers the traumas, the abuse, the problems while growing up. Humans might be the most advanced creation in the Universe (as far as we know it), but boy... are we fragile. And that's exactly what lies beneath Toni's behavior as a mother and Rosie's desire to break free. Social media plays a huge role in this book, which is why I said it was so interesting and sometimes scary for me to read as a parent. How well do we know our kids? How well do we all know the world?
This is also one of the rare psychological thrillers where I liked all the characters. Just at the beginning when I realized the author will speak from different POVs, one of a teenage girl at that, to be frank I though it won't turn out good. It's not easy to speak from a 15 year old's perspective when you're an adult, but SE pulls this off magically. She might did her research well or has a teenager at home :) Either way, I was fascinated by this as it didn't turn me off from the story and kept the story real.
Overall, THE PACT is a very thought provoking thriller and one I'm so glad I read. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5* is the pace which at times seemed too slow. So, if you're like me and like your stories just a bit more pacy, persevere... it will pay off by the end. I'll definitely be reading SE Lynes previous book very soon and hope I'll enjoy it at least as much as I enjoyed this one....more
Well, this book was certainly not what I expected. I haven't read any of Tracy's books yet however I do have a couple at home as they were recommended by friends who know I like rom coms. So, naturally I expected a comedy of some sort, maybe with a bit of romance and loads of laughs too. The 'chick lit-ish' cover fooled me too. But nope...this is definitely not a comedy, fluffy, or LOL read. Which doesn't mean it's bad, it's just really caught me off guard.
Now, I decided to read this book even before I read the blurb, which to some it might seem like a stupid idea but it's something I do once in a while but just for authors I was recommended to read. And Tracy Bloom is definitely an author whose writing style is totally up my alley and I'm most definitely planning on bumping her books up in my TBR pile.
But back to The Last Laugh now.. It is definitely not a comedy but a bitter-sweet story about a woman in her mid 40s who's just received the most awful news of having cancer. Now I know a lot of people avoid books with the C-word in it (and who knows, I might be one of them as I get very emotional while reading them) so consider yourself warned. However, what I can tell you is that it's an interesting take on someone who's struggling and I'd most definitely recommend you read it despite maybe avoiding this subject in books. Jenny is a 45 year old woman who was once adventurous, full of life and dreams, used to work as tour rep in Corfu and throw wild parties at the beach. Fast forward 20 years, she's working in an old people's home (nothing bad just a huge change), she's got two kids (one of them struggling with anxiety, the other a loud teenager) and is married to Mark but their relationship is not what it used to be. And one would say she still has a normal life however it all shatters when she's diagnosed with cancer and given max of two more years. On top of that, the very same day she receives the awful news, she catches her husband cheating on her. So, she's got her plate full, that's obvious but the way she handles these situations was more than fascinating to me.
Realizing she might not have much time left she decides to stand up for herself, re-creating the happy, care-free 1996 Jenny. In her own words, 1996 was the year she was the happiest, enjoying Spice Girls concerts, the sunny beaches in Corfu and the moments she fell in love with Mark. I have to say I found it a bit strange and I have mixed feelings about her fixation on the past. I totally understand that each of us creates memories and when life gets shit and out of our control we tend to visit a more familiar ground...so we turn to memories. But Jenny...oh boy she goes a lot further and this made me feel so sad at times. Of course I had sympathy and understanding for her illness, and even though she did an amazing job in hiding it from all of her friends and family I could feel she's deeply suffering. I am not much of a person who likes to dwell on the past, yet Jenny seemed so fixated on it, comparing her life now with the one she had when she was 25. I honestly wanted to gently shake her off a bit and tell her to focus on the future and the time she has. I don't know, again this could be me.
While the story was interesting and kept me turning the pages I have to say I have mixed feelings about Jenny as a character. The book does open with a scene in Corfu where she meets Mark, however I didn't feel much of the romance. I just couldn't see them as a couple, didn't feel even their fights as strongly. I also didn't understand why she'd keep her diagnose a secret... but this could be me. But I found it not very convincing, on the one hand she's madly in love with this man on the other hand she doesn't want him with her at the Doctors? I don't know... it just doesn't seem OK to me.
However, there was a lot I liked in this book. I do like how Jenny acts bravely despite the bad news, how she cares about her friends and family. But I absolutely loved how she transforms from this silent woman and 'victim' in her family to a woman who stands up to her mother, brother and husband. Overall, if you're fans of drama, I do think you will enjoy it. And as for me, I definitely will be reading more of Tracy's books....more
The Girls in the Water is Victoria Jenkins' debut and it's a really solid one. I had no expectations for this boo Originally posted on This Chick Reads
The Girls in the Water is Victoria Jenkins' debut and it's a really solid one. I had no expectations for this book, however I must admit I found the fantastic blurb and the cover very promising and I was eager to make a start with the story. It took me just a chapter or two get really immersed in the book and forget everything about the chores I had for that day. I know it sounds cliche, but really...once I started it I honestly couldn't put it down.
First off, I absolutely love a good police procedural, especially if it features female detectives (blame Angela Marsons and her DI Kim Stone for that). In this book (which is also the first in a brand new crime/thriller series) we have two female detectives, Alex King and Chloe Lane who work side by side in solving crimes. The two women are not alike however they do make an interesting team. Alex King is divorced, slightly bitter lady (but it appears she has a good reason for that) and Chloe is in her 20ties, very ambitious (as described by Alex), however has a bit of a dark past. The book is set in Wales, which I found really interesting as i haven't read many crime books set in Wales, however is not that strong on location. But that's totally OK, as the story is much more than that.
One day a female body is found on the river bank and Detectives King and Lane are called at the scene. The young woman's body is in a really bad condition suggesting she's been dead for some time. There are many bruises on the body and her nails have been torn off. What kind of a monster is behind this horrific crime? And who is the dead girl and what has she done to deserve such a fate? Shortly after the first body is found, another girl goes missing. King and Lane are trying to find a connection between the two girls and can only hope they'll be able to find the girl before the monster kills her. It takes a good 40% of the book till we find out how these two young women are connected and that missing link which gives the police force the first piece of the puzzle and hope they'll solve the crimes.
While we follow the stories of the victims, how they've come in contact with the killer and what brought them the horrible ending, we also follow Detective Lane's story of her brother that committed suicide about 8 years ago. At the same time when the girls go missing, Chloe starts receiving e-mails and she feels they are somehow connected to her brother's suicide and an old case of a 16 year old girl who strangled herself. There's a bit of this and that, all interestingly mixed, the old investigation and the new crimes and it makes the book really pacey.
While I absolutely adored the first half of the book and was absolutely blown away with the way the author managed to pull me in into the story from the first chapter, I felt things kind of slowed down in the second part of the book. However, that's not the only reason for deducing one star from the max five. The thing that made me decide on the rating is the main characters. I have to say I didn't find Alex and Chloe that memorable or strong. It's like I didn't get to know them that well, like the story was more important than their personality and their lives before the crimes. I don't know, they somehow felt... distant to me and I couldn't connect to either of them.
However, this is a great debut and a very promising start to a new series. It's evident Victoria is a talented writer who can create a great crime scene and keep things intense. I'm most definitely following the story and will be on the watch out for Book 2 in the series. If you're a fan of a good police procedural or looking for a new series to follow devotedly, this is definitely the book for you....more
After a long period of reading mostly crime/thrillers I've been SO excited to get back to my first love, rom coms Originally posted on This Chick Reads
After a long period of reading mostly crime/thrillers I've been SO excited to get back to my first love, rom coms and women's fiction. I remember the first time I saw the cover of IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW and read the blurb I felt immediately this book is my kind of read.
And then I started reading it...and holy f@ck! What did I just read?! Hold on, I will explain. Izzy is working in advertising and is after a promotion which is not going to be easy to get. She kind of has a boyfriend for two years (Max) but she's not sure why she's with him in the first place. Their sex life is practically nonexistent (of which she is reminded every day by her bestie, Tash) and seems like that spark is long gone (if there ever was one, actually). Now, her friend Tash is a completely different story. Wherever she goes she's like a magnet for men and even though she too has a long term relationship, she enjoys the random fling. After a night out with Tash, some drinks and loads of giggles, Izzy realizes she's not very satisfied with her life and decides to spice up her love life. But some very strange thing happens (and by strange I mean, WTF did just happen? kind of strange) and she's forced to make some drastic changes in her life. The WTF moment, which even for me, someone who's read tons of light hearted comedies, is a completely new thing. Izzy becomes invisible. I mean WHOA! Talk about life change! Once I got to this part of the book I said to myself... OMG, this is so not the type of book I was hoping to be.
But patience is virtue as we know and I was definitely rewarded for waiting for a few more chapters to get into the story. Now, I won't reveal more about the plot as you already can imagine there will be loads of funny and fun stuff going on with Izzy's relationship with Max, her job and her bestie. However, what I want to talk about in my review is about the absolutely brilliant message behind this book.
What appears to be a light hearted (some would say fluffy) story that's supposed to make you laugh, turns into a rather philosophical one if I may say. But don't worry, it's not the boring kind of philosophy. In an absolutely brilliant, fun and unique way Keris gives us a metaphor for life and talks about the times (we've all certainly experienced) when we felt invisible. All those times we think we don't matter, our opinion doesn't matter, when we feel like no one gets us. There were many times Izzy felt like she was invisible...till the day she really becomes invisible and reinvents herself.
I'm not sure how many psychology or spiritual books the author has read (I've read many) but either she's read tons or is very intuitive when it comes to the way we create our own reality. There were so many A HA moments when I would recognize something so many spiritual teachers have said, like living in the present, believing in something before we see it (experience it)... I'm telling you I was seriously impressed. (I swear, if Keris was next to me I would high five her for saying all these sound and wise stuff but in such a fun and hilarious way.)
I have to share with you my absolutely fave sentence which I plan on printing and even framing so I can be reminded of this every day..
''Why blend in when you were born to stand out'' - I f@cking adore this! I might as well tattoo it, I find it so powerful and true.
As you see, this is not your usual chick flick and I couldn't review it that way. While there are many laugh out moments (especially the conversations between Izzy and Tash) and there's loads of sweet, romantic moments and a gorgeous guy involved, this book is SO much more than that. So, a piece of advice when you pick it up... Scratch the surface and don't think of it as an attempt to mix fantasy with rom com. I'm not the biggest fan of fantasy (or any fantasy elements in a book) so I had to forget about the usual logic we search for in a book.
The only thing which bothered me slightly is the way how things were rushed (in my opinion). While I grasped the whole invisibility thing, I feel like some things would be much more enjoyable if they were given enough explanation and space.
However, IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW is definitely an interesting, unique and fresh read and I'm so happy I've discovered Keris. I've heard many great comments about her books and now I can understand all those readers. Keris definitely knows how to create an unforgettable story that I'm going to ponder on for many more days. So, if you feel down, if you feel like everyone's let you down and you want a book that will pick you up, please don't hesitate to get this book. You might even come to realize that all those self help books were not needed, the only thing you need to do is stop wanting to blend in. Cause as Keris says it, 'you were born to stand out'. ...more
Reported Missing is a book that grabbed my attention ever since I saw the gorgeous cover and r Originally posted on This Chick Reads
Actual rating 3.5/5
Reported Missing is a book that grabbed my attention ever since I saw the gorgeous cover and read the blurb. I was expecting an exciting, fast thriller with loads of suspense and tons of characters I will have my doubts in. Now, while I certainly enjoyed it I must say I expected a bit of different read. Which doesn't mean it was bad, it could be just my reading preferences in question.
This book is definitely a slow burner, it starts of slow but then again many great psychological thrillers do. It kind of is a good thing because it gives the readers a chance to get to know the main character better and get inside their heads. While I certainly respect this and it did gave me the opportunity to get to know the main character, Rebecca much better, it did drain me to certain extent. The book opens with Rebecca's husband missing about 4 months and the police still hasn't gt a clue to where he is. Not only that, even Rebecca is puzzled as she doesn't know why her husband would just up and leave on one hot July day. To make things worse, the very same day, 17th July, a 14 year old goes missing. The whole town thinks these two events are somehow connected and they suspect that Rebecca's husband, Chris ran away with the underage girl. This kind of makes Rebcca a persona non grata in the small town. She's got one good friend but is mostly unkind to her during the stress and is drinking most of the time. She's got no one to turn to for help as everyone think of her as 'the wife of the pervert'. We follow events from November to late December (Christmas day) as Rebecca does a bit of research on her own to find out the reasons of her husband's missing and possibly track him alive. At the same time, she needs to consider the possibility of her husband running away with 23 years old younger girl. She has a lot of stuff on her plate which is why she turns to drinking even more. Why would Chris run away from her? It's true that things between them have been kind of colder ever since their move from London, but as far as she knew, it wasn't such a big deal to make Chris leave her. However, as Rebecca starts her research she starts wondering, did she really knew her husband as well as she thought she did? She finds out he lost his job just a week before going missing and yet he kept it a secret. He was taking money from their joint account without even telling her. Why? As you see, Rebecca is in a really bad place.
Now, while all of this is definitely a good base for a novel, my biggest issue was the slow pace. It felt like building and building and in the end, made me care not so much about the big reveal. But what I loved the most is the author got me interested in Rebecca's life and personality. Even though Rebecca is not the most likable character I loved her inner dialogue and the flashbacks from her life with Chris. I didn't really think she was doing a great investigation, but then again, I wouldn't want ever to find out how I would investigate if my husband went missing. Of course she was clumsy, irritating and anxious most of the time, as she didn't have a single answer or many people who would help her.
What I also liked is how the book raises the question of trust. How untrustworthy are people sometimes, judging the first chance they get. Also, the flip side of the coin...what if we trust too much and end up hurt, realizing after so many years we knew nothing about our closest people. This book did make me wonder and I loved this. It's thought provoking and brings up such delicate question, like trust, loyalty, addiction.
Rebecca kind of reminded me of the main character from The Girl on the Train, drinking heavily and being really messed up. Also, she's the only narrator so we see only her point of view. While the book deals with two persons missing, it's more about how these events impact the lives of those who've stayed to cope with this loss. It's kind of a deep exploration into what goes on into the life of the one who stayed, who has to deal with all the hate, prejudice, not knowing, helplessness.
While I was absolutely blown away with how Rebecca got under my skin and revealed so much about herself making me feel all sorts of emotions (pity, rage, compassion) I have to say the slow pace made things a bit difficult. While there were certain twists I didn't expect, I found this one to be a bit predictable.
Overall, while I'm certainly used to faster thrillers, I'm glad I read Reported Missing and would definitely read another one by Sarah Wray. It's obvious she loves digging deep into the human psyche and has a great knack for creating unusual characters. ...more
Summer's just begun but I've already found a book that will go on my TOP 5 summer reads list! OMG Sue Watson has Originally posted on This Chick Reads
Summer's just begun but I've already found a book that will go on my TOP 5 summer reads list! OMG Sue Watson has done it again! Once again she proves she creates the yummiest and funniest books. As someone who's read all of her books and has been devotedly following her work for years, I can say (without a single doubt) this is definitely the best she's written! I have so much love for this book I honestly don't know even where to start with my review. I just feel like screaming from the rooftop, JUST READ THE BOOK! But I know that won't please you and if you're here, you're obviously looking for at least few coherent sentences to tell you what the book is about. So...I will try, I'll really do my best but know from start that my review won't do it justice.
First off, this is THE PERFECT summer book! Not just because there's tons of ice creams flavours mentioned (OK, that's a big bonus), or even because it's set in a beautiful, picturesque place by the sea, Appledore. In my opinion, what makes this book the perfect summer read is that strong feel good factor that oozes through the pages and that effortless humour which is undoubtedly Sue's forte. It's definitely one of the wittiest and most fun books I've ever read and though I already loved every single book Sue's written, this one was sheer brilliance. It's actually the book I wish I had written (Ha! IF only I had Sue's talent).
'Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream' is the second installment in The Ice Cream series, and while I really enjoyed the first one and could feel this will be a terrific series, this book simply exceeded all my expectations. Once again we're back in beautiful Appledore where we also meet some of the characters from the first book (Ella and her cousin Gina, who own Caprioni's Ice-Cream Cafe and amazing Sue is there too). I loved reading about Ella and seeing how life turned out for her. However, the main character in this book is Dani, the assistant manager at Caprioni's. Dani is simply brilliant! Think of Jemima J approaching her 40s. She's the ultimate chick lit heroine, upbeat, single and with such zest for life (and ice creams). She's a big foodie, always has been. Chips, chocolate, doughnuts, and of course ice cream is on her daily menu. She's always been on the plus size, however there's a big reason why she's so much into comfort food. Now she's approaching 40 and wants to finally solve this problem. 40 is the new 20 (or so they say) and is there a better way to reclaim the power in your life (and get your revenge for the broken heart) than by becoming an attractive and stylish adult?
Each of the chapters is named after a diet she's tried in her life (and boy, she's tried so many of them!) and starts with a Diary entry which will make you laugh out loud. As in all of Sue's books, there's a message for every woman out there, a message that will warm your hearts. As we follow Dani's story, from one failed diet to the next, one gym injury to the next, through tears and laughter we get to realize (once again) that there's more to life than having the 'perfect' body. And what's a perfect body anyway? We all definite it differently, right?
Yet as light as this book is, it still speaks about many important subjects such as self love (or the lack of it) and body shaming (which we see so often in today's society). Everywhere we go we're bombarded by these skinny and unhealthy girls looking at us from the cover of those glossy magazines and our culture demands we follow their example. Many times those who don't follow this trend are mocked and bullied in such horrific ways it scars their personality for life. Through Dani, Sue speaks on behalf of many women out there, women who just want to be accepted. This is why I think many women will be able to connect to Dani on so many levels and cheer for her from the start. She's such a lovable character and definitely one of my fave book heroines.
This is also one of these rare books where I liked all the characters (except for Jude) and all of them were so interesting. I really wish I get to see more of Karla, she's Dani's BFF and one fantastic lady. She's always there for Dani and has been her biggest support for the last two decades. I absolutely loved their bond, how strong it is and how much they accept each other's differences.
If you were wondering if there's any romance, oh yes there is. It's Classic Sue Watson so the romance is gradually built and will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. But there will be some drama too, so I won't say anything more to spoil it for you.
This is one hell of a gorgeous summer book and if you're looking for something light and easy, yet a book that will make you feel so so soooo good, this is definitely the one. Sue really sets the bar high this time and I can't wait to see what will be happening in Appledore next. While I was extremely sad to say bye to Dani, I have fingers crossed tightly she makes another appearance in some of Sue's other books. Yup, she totally got under my skin! Witty, delicious yet absolutely calorie-free, this is definitely Sue's best book yet. Even if you haven't read the first part in the series, you can easily jump into this one. I promise, you're going to love it....more
I can not believe it took me so long to read a book by Kerry Wilkinson! It's probably because the author writes m Originally posted on This Chick Reads
I can not believe it took me so long to read a book by Kerry Wilkinson! It's probably because the author writes mostly fantasy and YA and I hardly read those genres, however I'm pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this book. The cover is brilliant and the blurb is fantastic so I was really excited to get my hands on this book. What I feared is the slower pace, as lately I've been reading a lot of thrillers that were slow burners which kind of drained me. Well, while this isn't the most suspenseful and fastest book I've ever read, it sure kept me interested and turning the pages.
Two Sisters tells the story of Megan and Chloe Smart, who've just lost their parents in a car accident and are back at their summer cottage in Whitecliff to take care of the estate. The sisters have really had a crap childhood and had gone through the trauma of losing their brother, Zac a decade ago. Seems no one is the small village ever got to know what exactly happened to him, however many assumed he drowned. Once Zac is gone, the cold relationships in the family turn to the girls being sent to boarding schools and the sisters hardly seeing each other. They whatsapp and e-mail occasionally, however their relationship feels stiff and unnatural most of the times. It's like they've never learned from their parents about what real love and affection is and that is reflecting in all parts of their lives. Megan has an eating disorder, anorexia and Chloe is an insecure teenager who loves art but isn't confident enough to do anything about it. At the day of their parents' funeral, Megan, now in her twenties, receives a postcard with Whitecliff on the picture and one letter written on the back. Z... Z for Zac, right? Very creepy, right? Now this creepy factor you can feel all throughout the book which makes it a good psychological thriller.
Soon the sisters get on a search for their brother. He must be alive, right? Who else would send them a postcard? Whitecliff seems like a nice, friendly place next to the beach...but it proves to be everything but that! You can actually feel the eery atmosphere of that place and will suspect everyone in the village, both villagers and the tourists. I think the author did an amazing job in creating such a dark atmosphere, turning a small village into this creepy place you'd want to get the hell out of.
While the book has in its background the story of the missing kid, this book is actually more about the sisters, especially Megan. We really get into her brain and see the motives for her bitchy behavior. Yes, Megan is not the most likable character. Actually except for the sympathy I felt because of her condition, she really pissed me off most of the times. But then I'd remember she's in her twenties, never felt that unconditional love by either of her parents... and it kind of made sense she's like that. I didn't like Rachel from 'The Girl on The Train' either but think she made one hell of a protagonist! Same case here... Megan is not someone you'll easily connect to, but she drives the book and you'll definitely be interested in her search.
What I also found fascinating is the ease and the sensitivity with which the author handles issues as anorexia, dysfunctional families, siblings' relationships. The sensitive hints were a nice touch and made the characters more believable and the atmosphere more sinister. There are so many layers to this book and I am totally impressed of the author's skills to 'speak' on behalf of a twenty year old girl. I do think it took a lot of effort to get into a 'girl's head', but as a reader I didn't feel any struggle on Kerry's part. Which only proves his writing talent and skills.
I also really liked the twists and turns and couldn't predict some of them, however I have to say that I can't help but feel this thriller is for the younger audience. I swear, even if I didn't know Kerry writes YA, I could easily 'feel' that as he's got great interest and skill in getting inside a young mind. So, what I'm saying now is totally subjective and doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Maybe you enjoy YA so you won't have an issue with this.
To sum it up, this was a really interesting psychological thriller and I'm so glad I finally read something by Kerry Wilkinson. He's got so many books and while I'm not sure I'm ready for the YA books I'll definitely be checking out his other thrillers in the future. ...more
'The Serial Killer's Daughter' is Lesley Welsh's second book yet the first one I've read by he Originally posted on This Chick Reads
Actual rating 3.5/5
'The Serial Killer's Daughter' is Lesley Welsh's second book yet the first one I've read by her. It was caught on my radar when the publisher, Bookouture revealed the cover which I find absolutely fascinating. We all know covers can 'speak' and tell a lot about the book's story though sometimes publishers pick art designs which have no connection at all to what's inside. In the case of this book, I have to say that Bookouture did a brilliant job as not only is the cover amazing, but also it fits the story perfectly too. Sadly, Lesley is no longer with us and passed away in April this year so she's not able to see her 'baby' published and read all her readers' thoughts on the book.
Another thing that made me want to read this book is the blurb, which promised a lot. Now that I've read it, while I can't say I'm disappointed I certainly expected a faster story with more twists and turns. However, I'm really glad I've read it and I would definitely check out Lesley's first book too, 'Truth Lies Buried'.
Suzanne's lived with her mother and doesn't even have any recollection of her father who left them when she was very young. However, when Rose Anderson, who claims to be her father's partner till his last days, approaches her, Suzanne's life starts to dramatically change. Change for the worst, I need to add. Rose has some notes and pictures which she wants for Suzanne to have as they are the only thing now left of her deceased father. Suzanne's never really had any relationship with her father, however what she's about to discover will make her hate and despise him even more. When among the other pictures she finds one of her friend who went missing years ago, she starts suspecting her father was involved in something horrific.
As you see, the plot really promises a lot of suspense, horror and shocking revelations. While the story definitely kept me turning the pages I have to admit it took me a lot of time to really get into the story. The pace is too slow for my liking and I was desperately waiting for something to happen. It really is a slow burner (at least in my opinion) and this did annoy me to a certain degree.
However, the good thing is that Lesley did an amazing job in portraying a bad guy you won't help but hate. There are many graphic scenes and loads of violence, so if you're not into this or will find it too disturbing, consider yourselves warned.
It took me some time to get to like Suzanne too, however I did feel the hell she was going through and can only imagine how hard it is for someone to find out about so many family secrets.
Overall, this was an interesting thriller and I would definitely like to check out Lesley's first book as it's obvious she knew how to write a good thriller. If you're a fan of serial killer's stories, dark and disturbing reads this is definitely one to check out. ...more
I'm a HUGE fan of Jenny Hale and she really is my go-to author whenever I'm in need of a sweet romance book. She' Originally posted on This Chick Reads
I'm a HUGE fan of Jenny Hale and she really is my go-to author whenever I'm in need of a sweet romance book. She's got such an enormous talent and writing skills and really can create the most gorgeous, lovable characters. Especially the male characters, boy..they'll sweep you off your feet. The Summer House is truly an enjoyable and gorgeous read, just like the cover. I remember seeing the cover for the first time and thinking how mesmerizing it is. How it screams 'Freedom' and 'Beauty'. Besides thinking the cover art is amazing I really think it captures the very essence of the story.
Callie and her friend, Olivia have just bought a house in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and they're doing their best to finish renovating and open the B & B just by the end of summer. Ever since the first time they visited Olivia's grandmother in this small, picturesque place they've dreamed of buying a house there and starting their own business. They were thrilled when they finally could make an offer on the house and start their new business venture. As in all of Hale's stories, there's a dishy hero ready to sweep the heroine off her feet. A guy most romance lovers will drool over, and list him in their top 10 book hero crushes. Luke Sullivan is gorgeous, smart, classy and despite the rumors he's a playboy, he's actually a great and well mannered guy. If I wasn't already familiar with Jenny's books I might have feared of 'rich boy meets a not so rich girl'cliche, and even think the hero would be a spoiled brat, however I knew this was not going to be the case. Jenny's book couples sometimes tend to be on the border of too good to be true or 'too perfect', however this doesn't bother me the slightest. It's actually one of the reasons why I love books, especially romance ones, cause in these stories everything is possible and I can forget all about my real problems and even for a while believe the world is perfect. The story is just so gorgeous it actually makes you forget about yourself as you get immersed in Callie's life, her relationship with Luke and the mystery of the diary.
Speaking of this mysterious diary, Callie stumbles upon while renovating the house, it contains some very intriguing things, some secrets which might destroy certain people and their lives. Should she reveal it? Should she do something about it?
While there are kind of two stories to follow, the whole mystery part is in the background and adds more drama to the book. It's clear Jenny wanted to give the book more depth and complexity however I didn't find it as interesting as the romance part. Don't get me wrong, it still kept my interest and made me turn the pages with the speed of light, however if I compare it to the romance...it didn't flow that easy. But I was (as usual) totally immersed in Luke and Callie's story and adored the chemistry between them. If you're looking for a clean romance, this is definitely the book for you.
Another forte of Jenny's is location and how she manages to completely transport you to this beautiful, colourful place in North Carolina. It's like you can smell the salt in the air, feel the sunshine rays on your skin, breathe in the sea air. I could close my eyes and already feel at the beach, feeling that freedom and enjoying the nature. Jenny's the absolute master in describing the scenery and making you feel like you're actually there.
If you're a fan of sweet romance stories that will leave you feeling all fuzzy and warm inside, look no further! The Summer House is the perfect beach read. Prepare yourself to meet your next book crush (Luke <3 ) and to spend hours gushing about it. ...more
Well, this sure was a really intense book! I'm still a tiny bit confused about what I read and even surprised I lOriginally posted on This Chick Reads
Well, this sure was a really intense book! I'm still a tiny bit confused about what I read and even surprised I liked certain parts even though there was so much violence. When I first read the blurb, I wanted to immediately read the book. As someone who's kind of addicted to social media, especially twitter I was immediately intrigued. I even found the premise a bit similar to Angela Clarke's 'Follow me' which I really enjoyed, so I was pretty certain this book will be up my street. While it certainly had my interest till the last page, I'm still not sure just how much I enjoyed it.
Four people in four different cities have been murdered after twitting the hashtag #BeMyKiller to the same @BeMyKiller account. What started of as fun and mocking of a weird account soon turns into a horror. The victims would tweet @BeMyKiller and would be killed off exactly the same way 'they chose to be murdered'. One victim tweeted 'Hit me up @BeMyKiller' and she ends up run down. The police have no idea what's going on or if there are more than one killers. Are these random murders or somehow connected? Hazel is a documentary maker and one of the victims is her childhood friend, Meredith. When she finds out her friend is killed in such horrendous way she decides to make a documentary on these murders and gathers the crew and family of the other victims in the very park her friend was killed as a filming location. But what they didn't predict is that one by one the crew members will be killed off and everything will soon turn into Hazel's biggest nightmare.
As you see, the story is really intense. The short chapters make for one very pacey thriller which sometimes borders the suspense/horror genre. While I adore psychological thrillers, I have to say I'm not too crazy on books with so many characters and so much action. What really intrigued me from the beginning to the very end is the whole 'social media killings' thing. However, I wish I got to feel more the characters (and wish there were less character as I was a bit confused trying to remember them all) and build a certain picture/profile of the Killer.
While Be My Killer is definitely a fast paced book and keeps you glued to its pages, I really wish I got to connect to at least one character. One can see the author is definitely good at describing the killings, at times there was even too much violence for my taste, however my complaint would be that I missed connecting with the characters. I really missed that 'psychological' element which makes both the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys' more interesting and memorable.
I've heard that Be My Killer is the first in a series and I'm sure I'll be checking out the next installment. It's evident Mr Parker knows how to create a dark and gripping story that will have your stomach in knots. Exciting and scary at the same time, e? :)...more
Patricia Gibney's books are definitely gems and I'm so thankful for discovering this author anOriginally posted on This Chick Reads
Actual rating 4.5/5
Patricia Gibney's books are definitely gems and I'm so thankful for discovering this author and reading her books. Few months ago, Patricia made her debut on the thriller scene with her gripping and simply unputdownable book, The Missing Ones. Ever since then I've been waiting impatiently for the next installment in the series. Now that I've read it, I can only say, WOW...Patricia sure knows how to create a gripping story, characters you'll either love or dislike strongly and intertwine the past and present amazingly.
In 'The Stolen Girls' we're back in Detective Lottie's messy life and follow her story few months after the incidents in 'The Missing Ones'. Lottie is struggling with her life, still mourning the loss of her beloved husband due to cancer and juggling taking care of 3 teenage kids and her dangerous career. She's really on the edge sometimes, having difficulties in communicating and expressing her feelings. Her partner, Mark Boyd is there for her despite sharing a bit of personal history with him and many on/offs in their relationship.
One day the body of a young girl is found and the very same day a mother and her son visit Lottie for help in finding a missing friend. Could this be the same girl? And why have they come to her for help? Soon more bodies appear and Lottie is struggling to find a connection and if this is done by the same killer. In short chapters we're moving from present to past, from Ireland to Kosovo discovering some pretty nasty cases of human trafficking, organ farming, rape... Lottie also discovers that her late husband might be somehow connected to these cases and it brings her to pieces.
As you see, there's a lot of stuff happening in this book. There are many stories to follow and I have to say I found this rather challenging at times. It's also the only reason why I rate it 4.5/5, just half a star less than the first one in the series, The Missing Ones which I found simply mind-blowing.
The Stolen Girls is equally thrilling and gripping like the first one in the series, however I had some difficulties in following the many stories. It's still a chilling thriller that at times will have your stomach in knots. Patricia has a real knack for describing a crime scene and as in the first part, she doesn't shy away from this task and doesn't spare the reader from all the gruesome details. The topics covered in this book are rather sensitive and I think she did an amazing job in connecting the past with the present crimes.
Overall, this is definitely a great thriller and follow up in the series and I can't wait to see what Patricia has in store for us next. I'll definitely be following this series in the future as well as read everything Patricia ever writes, cause I simply love her writing style. Layered and clever, not to forget simply unputdownable, 'The Stolen Girls' definitely deserves to be on your reading lists. Especially if you're a fan of crime/thriller, I think you'll absolutely love Patricia's books. However, one piece of advice, though they can be read as stand alones, I advise you to start with the first one so you can get to know Lottie better and get a better feel of the dynamics in her relationship/partnership with Boyd and the rest of the team. Enjoy!...more
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