Month November 2021

The Survivors by Alex Schulman #NetGalley #mystery #thriller #literaryfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Survivors by Alex Schulman. This was a title I saw on NetGalley and my request to review it was granted. This is a mystery, thriller story that I found to be very addictive.

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Years ago, they fled the lake house.

Now, the brothers have returned.

Three brothers return to the family cottage by the lake where, more than two decades earlier, a catastrophe changed the course of their lives. Now, they are here to scatter their mother’s ashes – young men, estranged but bound together by the history that defines them. Their lives have been spent competing for their father’s favour and their mother’s love, in a household more like a minefield than a home. What really happened that summer day when everything was blown to pieces?

The Survivors is a suspenseful, haunting novel about three brothers and their reckoning with the events of one disputed, disastrous summer.

MY REVIEW

This is one of those books that I think you are either going to like or not. A story of three brothers, their lives growing up and also of their lives as they are now and trying to recall certain events.

It was a book that I wasn’t too sure about, or at least that was what I thought, but there was something about the writing and the story that captured my attention. It kept me turning the pages and a few hours later I had finished reading the book!

The story is told in a past and present way, and the timeline of the story isn’t quite what I expected. The present time was told backwards and while this may sound a bit strange it really worked for the story. It is a story that is in some ways a mystery but I didn’t realise until further into the book.

The author uses a cottage in the woods for the main section of the story as the three brothers grow up, their parents are a strange pair and the main character of Benjamin, one of the brothers, is always aware of tensions within the family. Quite why it is mainly him does get explained further along with the story.

It is a story that isn’t happy, but as I mentioned earlier there is something quite magnetic about it. A slow burner that veers towards literary fiction that focuses on a family and what life brings. It is not until almost the end of the book when suddenly things slot into place and there is a Eureka moment as I realised what the whole point of this story was. It was a journey through the life of the family but the destination was something that had happened in the past.

I really enjoyed this one and I could not put it down, it was mesmerising, heartbreaking and I adored it. I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Lost by Simon Beckett @BeckettSimon @Tr4cyF3nt0n @orionbooks #compulsivereaders #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Lost by Simon Beckett. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, so what better way to start than with this #1 Jonah Colley

My thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for arranging my copy of this book and for my spot on the Blog Tour.

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A MISSING CHILD

Ten years ago, the disappearance of firearms police officer Jonah Colley’s young son almost destroyed him.

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY

A plea for help from an old friend leads Jonah to Slaughter Quay and the discovery of four bodies. Brutally attacked and left for dead, he is the only survivor.

A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Under suspicion himself, he uncovers a network of secrets and lies about the people he thought he knew – forcing him to question what really happened all those years ago…

MY REVIEW

10 years separate two crimes, but what and is there a link is a question that Jonah Colley and other detectives want to know.

An old friend calls Jonah for help. Little does Jonah know what is to come. It will open old wounds and put him in the firing line as far as an investigation is concerned. How innocent is Jonah and what happened all those years ago?

This is the first time I have read a book by this author but I knew when I read the synopsis it was one I wanted to read. I do love a short synopsis and the one for this story is short, it is also very intriguing.

The author doesn’t hang about with this story and it progresses at such a good pace, it works so well with the story where time is something that is important. As the main investigation gets going it feels as if Jonah has to try and stay one step ahead.

I like how the author has woven the two timelines together so well, it has helped build a larger picture and it is also a way to gradually learn more details. The major details are trickled out and rather than being one large eureka moment, there are a series of realisations, that is until you get towards the end of the story and the final piece of the puzzle is placed.

This is a story that is quite complex as I now start to try and write my review, but while reading it there wasn’t a point where I felt lost or out of my depth. Instead, the author carefully laid the story out and it was full of double-crossing, lies, secrets and twists.

The story of Jonah is a heartbreaking one, it has tormented him for years and it gives such a brutal backstory which the author has used to build his character. There are dark and emotional themes in this story, there is cruelty that gradually unearths itself and it gives this a grittier edge.

This is one for those who like an intense, edgy, dark and atmospheric story. I thought it was an excellent read with some fabulously sneaky characters and also one that I found extremely addictive, so much so that this was a one-sitting read. I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Simon Beckett is the No.1 International Bestselling author of the David Hunter series. His books have been translated into 29 languages, appeared in the Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller lists and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. A former freelance journalist who has written for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent on Sunday and The Observer, the inspiration for the first David Hunter novel came after a visit to the world-renowned Body Farm in Tennessee introduced him to the work of forensic anthropologists.

As well as co-winning the Ripper Award in 2018/19, the largest European crime prize, Simon has won the Raymond Chandler Society’s ‘Marlowe’ Award and been short-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger, CWA Dagger in the Library and Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year.

In addition to the six David Hunter titles, the most recent of which is The Scent of Death, he has written five standalone novels, one of which, Where There’s Smoke, was adapted into a major ITV two-part drama.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The World Cup Mystery by Peter Bartram @PeterFBartram @RandomTTours #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The World Cup Mystery by Peter Bartram. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed several of this author’s books and I always look forward to catching up with Crampton and Shirley in this mystery series.

My thanks to the author for sending me a copy of his latest book and to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour.

A KILLING BEFORE KICK-OFF…

It’s July 1966 – and England is football crazy as fans cheer their team on to win the World Cup.


There are millions who’d kill for a ticket to the final in London’s Wembley Stadium. Then café owner Sergio Parisi is found murdered in his own kitchen – and his World Cup Final ticket missing.


As Evening Chronicle crime reporter Colin Crampton chases down the story, he discovers the ticket theft could be part of an even deadlier crime.


There are laughs alongside the thrills as England closes in on victory – and Colin, with his feisty girlfriend Shirley Goldsmith, close in on the killer.

PURCHASE LINKS – AMAZON UK

MY REVIEW

Trouble follows Colin Crampton of the Chronicle newspaper no matter where he goes. Even when he and his girlfriend Shirley are on holiday trouble finds him. This leads to a shortened holiday and a rush back home to the UK.

Colin is an investigative journalist for a Brighton newspaper, Shirley is a model and together they are a great pair of characters. As much as I adore Colin, Shirleys ability to keep, well almost keep Colin in check, makes her another brilliant character.

This is a cosy mystery series and this story is set in 1966, the year of the World Cup. The author really does make it obvious of the football-mad time. As we have recently had a world cup, you are always aware of it in the news, in conversations and so it makes sense to have a good amount of references to it in the story, I will add that it is not overly done.

The story is a mix of murder, theft, cons and a certain rather famous Sicilian family. How the author has twisted all these threads together is great. Mentions of the theft of the World Cup trophy, the discovery of it have all been brilliantly woven together with the fictional to create an addictive murder mystery.

How Colin has not got into more scrapes than he has is beyond me, he definitely lives life by the edge of his pants, sometimes a little too close for comfort. Again Shirley has a part to play, after all, she is a model, and Australian so the author has given her the gift of the gab and she isn’t afraid to use her feminine wiles.

While this is firmly a murder mystery, it is also historical fiction but one that is almost light-hearted. Several times I find myself chuckling and this makes for such an enjoyable read. There are several twists, various threads and a nice array of characters that are not necessarily what they appear.

These books can be read as stand-alone books, but as with all series, they are better if read in order as you do get to build a relationship with the main or recurring characters. I do always enjoy catching up with Colin and Shirl, and this latest mystery is a fabulous one. It mixes fact and fiction giving an exciting and manic read, it is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle crime mystery series. His novels are fast-paced and humorous – the action is matched by the laughs. The books feature a host of colourful characters as befits stories set in Brighton, one of Britain’s most trend-setting towns.

You can download Murder in Capital Letters, a free book in the series, for your Kindle from http://www.colincrampton.com.

Peter began his career as a reporter on a local weekly newspaper before editing newspapers and magazines in London, England and, finally, becoming freelance. He has done most things in journalism from door-stepping for quotes to writing serious editorials. He’s pursued stories in locations as diverse as 700-feet down a coal mine and a courtier’s chambers at Buckingham Palace. Peter is a member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers’ Association.

Follow Peter on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/peterbartramauthor.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 14th Nov 2021) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

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Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read. Just three books this week, but all three were very different and also brilliantly entertaining in their own way.

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When in autumn it is nice to be reminded of the summer and The Seaside Cocktail Campervan by Caroline Roberts definitely made me think of the warmer days of only a few weeks ago. A new business see’s two strangers connecting over pizzas and cocktails. The author really did a wonderful job with her descriptions of food and drinks as well as creating a lovely and engaging story. She also added some of the recipes at the end of the books, a welcome addition. One for fans of rom-com, summer reads and one I would definitely recommend.

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I requested this one via NetGalley and I almost didn’t read this one. The Silence of Scheherazade by Defne Suman was a book that took me a while to get into, but there was something about it that made me want to keep reading this slower and at times slightly confusing book. This is the story of four different families and each with a timeslip timeline. While the storyline may have confused me at times, I am so glad I persevered with it as the writing style was absolutely mesmerising. This is a historical fiction story that does has a strong lean towards the literary fiction genre. Given my initial apprehension, I am glad I read this and it is one I would also definitely recommend.

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The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart is the second book in the Drowning Empire series and I have been eagerly awaiting this one. This is a series that should be read in order as this second book expands on the previous book as well as moves forward with the story of Lin, Jovis and the other characters. This is a fantasy series and I adore everything about it. It was a little more detailed but this helped to build the characters, the tension and mistrust. Keep an eye out for my full review next week as part of the blog tour.

There we have it,

Another week over and more to add to my reading tally.

Take Care and Stay Safe,

Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker – Chan @panmacmillan @MantleBooks #NetGalley #historicalfantasy #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today for She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker – Chan. This is the first book in The Radiant Emperor series and ios set in China in1345. It is a reimagined story from history and I adored this a lot. My thanks to Pan Macmillan and Mantle Books for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

She’ll change the world to survive her fate . . .

In Mongol-occupied imperial China, a peasant girl refuses her fate of an early death. Stealing her dead brother’s identity to survive, she rises from monk to soldier, then to rebel commander. Zhu’s pursuing the destiny her brother somehow failed to attain: greatness. But all the while, she feels Heaven is watching.

Can anyone fool Heaven indefinitely, escaping what’s written in the stars? Or can Zhu claim her own future, burn all the rules and rise as high as she can dream?

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a re-imagining of the rise to power of Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu was the peasant rebel who expelled the Mongols, unified China under native rule, and became the founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. 

MY REVIEW

The synopsis for this book mentions how it is based on Zhu Yuanzhang, a peasant born in 1328 who led the rebels who brought the end of Mongolian rule in China. This story is a reimagining or alternative version of Zhu and the rise to power.

So how is this reimagining? A young peasant girl decides she wants to live, she doesn’t want to be nothing, she wants to be something. In fact, she wants greatness and for all to know her name. The only way this can happen is she takes on the identity of her dead brother Zhu.

Set in the 1300s this is a story that I absolutely loved. I really like the idea of a woman having the nerve to rise to power especially in a time when women have no power or status, are possession and should bear the next generation of sons. Having a character that has the temerity and the nerve to make her own way in this male-dominated world was great.

As this is a reimagining of a historical period, it means the book falls into a category of historical fantasy, and to a point yes it is fantasy but it is also fabulous reading for those who love historical fiction. AS soon as I started this book and read the first couple of sentences I knew I was going to enjoy reading it. Those opening lines were ideal for drawing me in.

As this is set in the 1300s there is a lot of turmoil in the Mongolian/ Chinese areas, under the Khanate, Mongolia wanted to extend its reach and the size of the kingdom. China was a country that has had a lot of turbulent times, Mongolian rule is just one of those times.

The author created a fabulous set of characters who all have their own desires, some more honest than others but very few I would call trustworthy. The middle ages are about power, land, resources, armies, feuds and dominance. Sides and allegiances can be swapped in a blink of an eye. Families are even worse.

I did like that the author decided to choose a female to be the main protagonist, especially when women hold such a low status in this era. I really enjoyed following the journey from peasant girl to a monk and then the story that followed.

I adored everything about this book, it was also incredibly difficult to put down once I had started it. As this is the first book in The Radiant Emporer, I will be looking forward to continuing the story of Zhu in the next book.

I liked this a huge amount and it is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my review, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Broken Girls by Joy Kluver @JoyKluver @Bookouture #NetGalley #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for the 2nd book in this series. Broken Girls by Joy Kluver is a fabulously addictive crime, thriller read. My thanks to the publisher Bookouture for my copy via NetGalley.

My review of the first book, Last Seen, can be found HERE

Brambles catch her dress, scratch her legs. She has no option but to go barefoot if she’s going to outrun her hunter. They’d been laughing a few minutes before, but things can change in the blink of an eye. Then he’s on her, and the world goes dark.

The woman is young, judging by the short red dress, and dark-haired. Any other signs of her identity have been erased during her long wait to be found, but it’s clear she has been strangled: this was a vicious and personal murder.

D.I. Bernadette Noel knows that every second counts if they are to catch this killer, but they have no leads – until the discovery that the dead woman’s rings match a stolen property report, and the rings’ owner mentions a missing Italian au pair.

Then a shocking discovery about their victim – and the news that another girl, also young and dark-haired, has been abducted – changes everything the team thought they knew about the case.

Piecing together witness statements, Bernie notices key similarities between the description of the person last seen with their murder victim, and someone the missing girl was messaging online. She is convinced they’re looking at the same perpetrator – and if that’s the case, Bernie’s job is no longer just to catch a killer: it’s to save a life.

With few options left, and time running out, she makes a desperate plan. She’ll risk everything on one shot to force their suspect’s hand and push him into making a mistake. But traps need bait – and if her plan fails, a third girl could die…

A gripping crime thriller with a nail-biting climax. If you like Angela Marsons, Susie Steiner or D.S. Butler, you’ll love Joy Kluver. 

Purchase Link – AMAZON UK

MY REVIEW

I read the first book in this series a while ago, so when I saw the second book I was definitely interested. You could read this as a stand-alone, but you would miss some of the backstories between a couple of the characters. The character development is something that does continue across both books.

Bernie Noel is more than frustrated when she discovers that her boss, takes the lead on the case when a body is discovered in local woods. Worthy, or Worthless as he is named behind his back seems to want to take charge but doesn’t seem to have much oomph when another girl goes missing. Bernie knows her team, she knows their strengths and she also knows who to call for additional advice for this macabre case.

I do like Bernie, she is a worker, she really doesn’t stop thinking about the case, trying to piece clues and snippets together. She tries to join the dots as information is gathered. But, she is also being hampered, this adds to the frustration. She is a copper who knows the area, has a rapport with the residents and knows how to talk to them, unlike some!

This is a brutal case as regards the condition of the body, a young woman whose body has been abandoned and left for several days out in the open… I don’t think I need to elaborate on what Bernie found! But, the author does go into a good amount of detail, it is enough to convince this reader that what the Detectives see was not pleasant at all.

The author does have a very good way with the pacing of this story, at times when the case looks like it may stall she finds a twist to add, another clue or piece of information. This may sound convenient, but it doesn’t come across like that in the story.

AS I said this book does continue on from the previous, and I like that we get to see more of certain characters, perceptions and opinions are challenged and more things are discovered. It’s a great way of building a bond between reader and character.

This is a gritty police procedural, a fabulously addictive crime thriller and one that I read over the course of late afternoon and evening. A one-sitting read because I could not put this one down. I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

War Clouds Over Blackberry Farm by Rosie Clarke @AnneHerries @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbloggers #histfic #saga #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today for War Clouds Over Blackberry Farm by Rosie Clarke. I have read a few books by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Her latest book is the start of a new series, it was a brilliant book to read.

As always, my huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book via NetGalley.

Cambridgeshire – March 1939


As the clouds of war begin to gather in Europe, the Talbot family of rural Blackberry Farm will be torn apart, just as so many families all over the world will be. Life will never be the same again.


Whilst in London, the Salmons family will feel the pain of parting and loss.


Brought together by war, the two families become intertwined and, as the outlook looks bleak, they must draw on each other’s strength to fight through the hard times.


Lizzie Johnson and Tom were sweethearts until a mistake caused a terrible rift. Lizzie takes herself off to London to heal the pain in a glamorous new job but she still loves Tom. His pride has been hurt – but deep down inside Tom still cares. Can they find happiness before their chance is gone and the whole world is swept into the terrible madness of war?


Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW

War Clouds Over Blackberry Farm is a new series from the author and it is another fabulous historical fiction set in 1939.

Blackberry Farm is a delightful sounding farm where the Talbot’s, a hard-working and well-respected family in Cambridgeshire. Tom and Lizzie have been together for a while, but one night something happens that leaves her embarrassed and she decides to leave the village and try to find a job in a London hair salon. She falls on her feet when she finds not only a job but also a wonderful family to stay with.

The Salmon’s are another close-knit family who is welcoming and Lizzie soon finds herself feeling welcomed. She finally decides that she needs to confront what happened in the past come what may. She needs to know if Tom will accept her explanation as to what happened and if there is a chance for a future between them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in this new series. It didn’t take me long to work out the characters and their roles in the families. Working between the city and the countryside brings different views and of course ways of living.

As the war is becoming more definite, people are thinking towards the weeks, months ad possible years to come. Some men sign up, others decide to wait to be called and some will apply for exemptions to work in their job. As the inevitable begins, wounded men are starting to return, women are thinking of training to be nurses as well as becoming land girls.

Bringing two new families means that I get to know a whole new set of characters. There are some glimpses of backstories and of course, not all the characters are nice to meet. The way the families live and work is laid out well and the mentions of foods and especially cakes sound amazing. I did like how the author used the soon to begin war as a way for her characters to make use of what they have while they have it.

I liked the contrast between the city and the country and how well the author bridged the gap between the two and also how the families become connected. I was gutted when I realised I had gotten to the end of the book. I did that whole thing of swiping back a page, and forward again, then back again before it sunk in that I had actually got to the end.

This is a book for those readers who like historical fiction and romance, for sagas and women’s fiction set in the early days of WW II. A brilliant opener to the series and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Shop Girls of Harpers and The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is an RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

Social Media Links – Twitter – Bookbub – Newsletter

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 7th November 2021) #booknews #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read this week. I also have a Blog Tour review out today as well.

Last week, well the late hours of Saturday night saw me finish my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 200 books. The book I chose to complete the challenge was a fabulous one and you will see what it was below 🙂

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The Secret Path by Karen Swan was a wonderful read for a cold autumn night. When Tara Tremain visits the island she is forced to confront her ex, Alex. He used her and she now needs his help as she is in the middle of the jungle trying to help a sick child. A wonderful read and one that I adored, with gorgeous descriptions, wonderful settings and some fabulous characters. A mix of contemporary fiction, mystery with a good deal of suspense.

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When I saw the Blog Tour for The Lost by Simon Beckett, I along with loads of other Book Bloggers asked for a spot. This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I am so glad it is the first book in a planned series. Dark, twisted, riveting and a blooming good read. A crime thriller told over a dual timeline and it had me hooked.

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I do love this series and The World Cup Mystery by Peter Bartram sees Colin Crampton, an investigative journalist once more in the thick of things. It’s 1966 and Colin and his girlfriend Shirley have had to cut short their holiday and rush back home to Brighton. Trouble it seems finds Colin no matter where he is, and the trouble this time has the potential to be very serious indeed. A fun, cosy crime mystery series and one I will share my review for soon as part of the Blog Tour.

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I was lucky enough to win an e-copy of A Christmas Caroline by Camilla Isley, The author has taken the story A Christmas Carol and given it a modern-day spin using the hardworking, businesswoman Caroline as her main lead. I really enjoyed this story and it didn’t take me long to get into this. A wonderful festive story with a moral. The review will follow shortly.

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So, this is the book that I read that hit my Goodreads target for the year…

Dead Ground by M.W. Craven is the 4th book in the Washing ton Poe series and what a belter of a book it was. I adore the team of Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, they are like chalk and cheese but make such an amazing team. This time they are called in to help with murder, one that has more secrets, red tape and officious persons than they have come across before. Not that this is ever going to stop Poe from being Poe of course. It is a brilliant story and one that once again had me hooked.

Another week is done,

Have a great week ahead and stay safe,

All the best

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Story of Our Secrets by Shari Low @sharilow @rararesources #contemporaryfiction #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbloggers #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Story of Our Secrets by Shari Low. This is a gorgeously written and very emotional book.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this book via NetGalley.

Colm O’Flynn was loved by his close circle of family and friends, however, his death came too soon for everyone to make peace with their past.


Shauna, his second wife, adored him. But one night she broke their marriage vows and didn’t get time to ask Colm’s forgiveness.
Jess was the first Mrs O’Flynn. Her heart is set on someone new, but will the last one night stand she shared with Colm come back to haunt her?


Colm’s best friend, Dan, is recently divorced. Can he take a second shot at happiness if it means betraying the one person who always had his back?


What no one knows is that somewhere out there Colm left messages that could set them free to start over again.


Can divine intervention help them find Colm’s last wishes before it’s too late to love again?


Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW


What an absolutely gorgeous and emotional book the author has created with Thre Story of Our Secrets. When Colm is diagnosed with a brain tumour, he doesn’t sit and discuss the practical things about life after his death with his wife Shauna. He has never discussed anything important that would involve emotions. Shauna is not the only person he left behind, there is his daughter Beth, his ex-wife Jess and their twin sons, and also his business partner and best mate Dan.

This is an emotional roller coaster as I gradually got to know the people that are important in the life of Shauna. She is good friends with Jess, the ex-wife and both of their families fit together as one. Trying to cope with grief and also the anger of not knowing what to do for the best, Shauna is struggling, Dan is also struggling as is Jess. These three need to move on, but they are finding it difficult. Life is not the same with Colm.

While this story is obviously sad at times, there is also a lot of good happy things going on in it. The biggest feeling that came through for me was that very tentative thread of hope and wanting the characters to move forward in their lives. And did the author make these characters go through it or what!!! SHe didn’t give them an easy route and this made the story so much the better. Nothing about life is particularly easy and before any of the characters can move forward they have to face some truths, and also hear some secrets.

This is a fabulous book to snuggle up and read. It had me with watery eyes with several of the scenes, but also feeling that it was time for the next step. The author has created some amazing characters and with them comes some fabulous dramatics and drama. The storyline is one that fans of romance and contemporary fiction will really enjoy. I adored this book and I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 25 novels, including One Day In Summer, My One Month Marriage, and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

Social Media Links – Facebook – Twitter –Instagram – Bookbub – Newsletter

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

A Secret Gift by Amanda James @amandajames61 @OneMoreChapter_ #NetGalley #contemporaryfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for one of my favourite authors. A Secret Gift by Amanda James is a fabulous contemporary fiction story set in Cornwall.

My thanks to the Publisher One More Chapter for accepting my request to review this book from NetGalley, for an honest and unbiased review.

Escape to Cornwall for an enchanting, heartwarming new novel about friendship, hope and second chances…

Three years ago, Joy Pentire lost her firefighter husband and she still hasn’t returned to the woman she once was. But then she meets Hope, one of the residents at the nursing home where she’s a carer.

Hope has a secret gift that she wants to pass on.
And Joy’s life is forever changed.

Surrounded by the community in her Cornish hometown, Joy’s unexpected inheritance soon leads to new opportunities, new friends, new love, and the part of herself she’d thought forever lost … her joy.

A heart-warming, joyful story of the power of personal connection. 

PURCHASE LINK – HERE

MY REVIEW

Firstly, now that I have finished reading this book I can appreciate how the gorgeous cover fits in with the story. I have been a fan of this authors stories for quite a while now and have read most of her books. She is an author who crosses genres and does it very well indeed.

This story is about Joy, a widow who is getting by. Not ready to move on after the death of her husband. She works at a local care home. while it is a job it is not what she originally hoped to do. Talking of hope, Hope is the name of one of the residents and if I am honest one of Joy’s favourites. Hope doesn’t have long left, she knows it as does Joy, so Hope bequeaths on Joy a secret and a jar of pebbles! Sounds a bit random I know, but the story that follows is one that I found captivating. So captivating that I read this book from start to finish in one sitting!

This is such a gorgeous read, a story of a young woman trying to deal with life. Working, helping others and not quite fulfilling her life, she isn’t miserable, but she isn’t happy. Melancholic I think would sum her up.

The secret, well if I told you what that was it wouldn’t be a secret, but believe me when I say it is something quite special. It is a secret that not only helps others but will in time help Joy herself. And yes, the pebbles are part of it.

This is another wonderful and captivating story. It has some wonderful sentiment and emotions to it. I found the main character of Joy, to be a really lovely one. Friendly, warm and one of life’s plodders. She plods along doing her best. The author does inject a touch of romance, but for me, the story was about friendship and helping others. About being a friend, a shoulder and supportive when needed, also about trying to move forward after heartache, about trusting people and your instincts.

This really was a lovely story and one I adored and would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx