Tag Book Review

Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers by Robin A Crawford @RobinACrawford2 #cauldblasts @eandtbooks #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers by Robin A Crawford. You would not believe how many time I have checked the spelling of those words!!! Spell checker is having an absolute field day with its wiggly red lines as well 😁

So this is a book about Scottish words and I have a few words here that you can have a guess at for a bit of fun. They definitions can be found below in the synopsis.

Do you know what these mean…

Clishmaclavers

Inkie-Pinkie

Sodie-heid

Smowt

Simmer dim

Dreich

I would like to thank Alison Menzies at Elliot & Thompson for my gorgeous copy of Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers. My thoughts are my own.

Publication: 20 August 2020

£9.99 B-format hardback

ISBN 13: 978-1-78396-478-9

The evocative vocabulary, wit and wisdom of the Scots language – from Robert Burns to Twitter.

Scottish writer and bookseller, Robin Crawford, has gathered 1,000 Scots words – old and new, classical and colloquial, rural and urban – in a joyful celebration of their continuing usage. His amusing, erudite definitions put each of these words in context, revealing their evocative origins and essential character. Delightful line drawings by Scottish printmaker Liz Myhill contribute to this treasury of linguistic gems for language lovers everywhere.

The Scots language is intricately bound up in the nation’s history, identity, land and culture. It is also a living and vital vernacular, used daily. With references to Robert Burns mingling with contemporary examples from Billy Connolly and even Monty Python, Cauld Blasts and Clishmaclavers revels in the richness of one of our oldest languages, and acts as a precious reminder of words that are also beginning to fade away, their meaning and value disappearing.

 Clishmaclaver: the passing on of idle gossip, sometimes in a book.

Inkie-pinkie: weak beer.

Sodie-heid: literally, ‘head full of soda bubbles’, airhead.

Smowt: youngster, technically a young trout or salmon but also affectionately applied to a child. 

Simmer dim: Shetland term for long summer evenings where due to the northern latitude it never really gets dark.

Dreich: grey, miserable, tedious; usually applied to weather but indicative of the Scots temperament, hence it being voted Scotland’s favourite word in a recent poll (or perhaps indicative of the temperaments of Scots who feel the need to participate in online polls): ‘It’s gey dreich the day.’

Purchase from Amazon UK – Kindle – Hardback (these are affiliate links)

So, were you right with what you thought the words meant? xx

My Review

I love learning new words and different dialects and local variants are always fascinating to me. I have lived in several counties so I have picked up local sayings. It amazes me how you can have different meanings for a word on adjoining counties. Having read fictional books written by many Scottish Authors I do find it really interesting to come across local words while reading.

So, the author has gathered 1,000 words from all walks of Scottish life, from farmers, fishermen, comedians and from years gone by. The words are a mix of old almost forgotten words as well as more mainstream ones that were more recognisable to me. I love how the author has brought so many words together as a way of bringing the past back to the forefront.

This book is ideal for dipping in and out of and I loved looking at the words and trying to guess those that I hadn’t come across before. Mostly I was wrong but that adds to the fun of this book. I have the hardback version and I have to say the cover is gorgeous and it also makes it the perfect book for leaving on the coffee table for others to enjoy.

A wonderful little book that is full of Scottish words that will amuse as well as test your pronunciation. I adored this book and I would recommend it to those who like to expand their vocabulary. I would also suggest that readers of Non-fiction and history would really enjoy this book as there are so many little anecdotes and historical snippets that have been included.

A brilliant book that I would absolutely recommend.

About the Author

Born in Glasgow, writer and Scottish bookseller Robin A. Crawford has a particular interest in the culture and natural heritage of his native land. He is the critically acclaimed author of Into The Peatlands: A Journey Through the Moorland Year, longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2019. He lives in Fife, Scotland, with his wife. He is available for interview.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Nancy Cornish PI by Amanda James @amandajames61

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review for Nancy Cornish PI by Amanda James. This is the second book in the series and another book that absolutely hit the right spot. My huge thanks to Mandy for my advanced e-copy of this book, my thoughts are my own.

As I am away from Social Media at the moment, any shares or likes would be very much appreciated ❤

Let me show you what it is all about…

Where extraordinary things happen…you’ll find Nancy Cornish

Nancy Cornish has recently left her job at The Whistling Kettle Café in Padstow to start her own PI business. Nancy, seemingly an ordinary member of her community, has an extraordinary gift. She is able to make psychic connections with those who have passed, and objects belonging to those still living. The PI denotes Psychic Investigator, not Private Investigator. Her husband Charlie is a DS in the Truro police, and a down to earth Cornishman. In the past, he’s dismissed Nancy’s gift as ‘mumbo jumbo’, but now he accepts that she’s a very good detective. He’s over the moon that she’s been able to help him solve some important crimes, and is keen for her to keep up this good work.

As well as working with her husband in his police work, Nancy’s main mission in life is to use her gift to help others. In the grand scheme of things, the cases she solves within her community might not seem very important. However, they mean the world to those who come to Nancy for help. Some of her successes to date has been to reunite long lost lovers, track down a war hero’s missing medals, rescue a beloved pet, and find the mystery ingredient in the local butcher’s prize-winning sausages! 

In this sequel to The Cornish Connection, we see people come to Nancy for all sorts of reasons. Some are new clients, some are old friends, and she often discovers that what they say they need help with, is only the beginning of their story. Nancy’s investigations and discoveries help them to see what’s most important to them in life, and how to achieve it. And as we all know, that thing is happiness. 

Nancy Cornish PI – ‘An unusual and uplifting story, set against the gorgeous backdrop of Cornwall. Perfect!’ 

Purchase from Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

This is the second book in the Nancy Cornish PI series. The PI is Psychic Investigator and Nancy has run her business helping people for a year. She helps people find lost items of sentimental value, discovers untold secrets and puts peoples minds at rest. This is a series I am really enjoying as I follow Nancy around Cornwall as she connects the dots and solves the mysteries.

As this is the second book in the series I was already aware of some of the characters and there are brief mentions of past cases. To be honest it is a book you could read as a stand alone, but I would advise reading in order as some of the characters have some smaller ongoing story lines.

This book follows Nancy as she solves a series of cases, while some seem straight-forward there are also others that have a more serious nature. Other involve a more lengthy course of action and take a while to come together.They are wonderfully woven together and kept me hooked throughout the book.

I always mention this authors use of the Cornish landscape and surrounding area, she uses it to such good effect and it adds a wonderful sens of place. It always amazes me how well she weaves the scenery into the story and it always feels fresh and like you are take a short breather from he story but are still very much involved.

This is another fabulous book int he series and one that i think mystery readers would really enjoy as well as those who want something slightly different. Yes it does have a psychic element to it and I think it works really well. It has left me wanting to read more in the series and I would definitely recommend it.

Amanda James has written since she was a child, but never imagined that her words would be published. Then in 2010, after many twists and turns, the dream of becoming a writer came true.

Amanda has written many short stories and has thirteen novels currently published. Her time travelling debut – A Stitch in Time was published in April of 2013 and has met with great success.

Amanda lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the wild and beautiful coastline near her home. She has many suspense/mystery novels set there. Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Summer in Tintagel, Behind the Lie, Another Mother, Deep Water, The Cornish Retribution, The Feud and Dark Deception. Amanda has two women’s fiction books. The Calico Cat, a family drama/coming-of-age, and The Cornish Connection, cosy crime with a psychic twist. 

Amanda can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.

Visit Mandy on Twitter – Facebook – Amazon Author Page

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

The Wedding Favour by Lily Bartlett #summerreading #romcom #cosyromance #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Wedding Favour by Lily Bartlett. It is a really good book for summer escapism reading.

So, what is it all about then…

When Nelly Roberts is left in the lurch with not just a wedding but also a bridal magazine feature on the line, she has no choice but to substitute one groom for another. The fates align when she’s introduced to the gorgeous Rafael. He’s looking for a way to stay in the UK where he’s built the life he loves.

So they make a pact: act the perfect couple for as long as it takes for Nelly to get her wedding and Rafael to get his visa. The catch? Absolutely nobody can know the truth.

From the charming streets of London to beautiful Cornwall, The Wedding Favour is a fun, feel-good romantic comedy perfect for fans of The Wedding Date and Four Weddings and a Funeral!

Purchase from Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

The Wedding Favour was a very enjoyable read as Nellie and Rafael arrange a wedding. The thing is Nellie was due to marry Matt but he got cold feet and “needed space”. For most people it would simply be a case of cancelling everything, but the wedding is part of a magazine shoot and Nellie will not be able to afford to pay back what she has spent already.

So where does Rafael fit into the picture? Well he has been working in the UK but his Visa is about to run out. Nellie has a brainwave that if she and Raphael got married she would fulfil her contract and he could remain in this country.

This was a book that I read over an afternoon, it has a laid back style to it and if you are after a light read then this would fill that gap very nicely indeed. I liked the relationship between Rafael and Nellie, starting as friends but there seems to be a spark.

I did like the will they/ won’t they sort of scenario, especially when Matt makes an appearance back on the scene. He realises he has made a mistake, but will it be enough to convince Nellie to change her plans once again.

There are some nice moments in this book and i have to say that the author nailed the romance from Rafael, a gent who definitely has a way with words and who has a cheeky style to him. The thing with a relationship that is based on a lie is when that relationship then starts to become something more, but is it real or are they still playing the part!

Ideal for readers who like rom-coms and chick lit style reads and one I would recommend.

Image taken from Amazon Author Page

Lilly Bartlett’s cosy comedies are full of laugh out loud moments, quirky characters and guaranteed happily-ever-afters.

Lilly is the pen-name of Sunday Times and USA Today best-selling author, Michele Gorman, who writes best friend-girl power comedies under her own name.

Amazon UK Author Page – there are a lot of books to pick here xx

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

Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland @JessicaRedland @rararesources #romance #summerreading #coverlove #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review today for Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland. 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 absolutely gorgeous book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

How gorgeous is that cover? 😍

Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow


Can love really be found when you stop looking for it…?

As Samantha Wishaw watches the love of her life marry another woman, she’s ready to give up hope of finding her happy ever after.

But when a chance encounter leads Sam to find friendship in Thomas – a lonely, grumpy elderly widower living at derelict Hedgehog Hollow – her life is about to change forever.

Glad to have a distraction from family feuds and match-making, Sam vows to fulfill Thomas and his wife, Gwendoline’s, dreams of restoring Hedgehog Hollow to its former glory, and to open a hedgehog rescue centre.

Throwing herself into the task at hand, little does Sam realise that the keys to love and happiness may also be found at Hedgehog Hollow, when she least expects it…

Escape to Hedgehog Hollow this summer with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting, feel-good read.

Purchase Link –Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

Wow-what an amazing read this was. I started it as I got in the bath, 2 hours later I decided I really need to get out the bath! I then got dry, warmed up in PJ’s and then finished reading the book, it was that good!

This is the story of Samantha and her life, the people in her life and how she is treated. She has not had the best relationship with some of her family and when her cousin, who is also best friend marries her ex-boyfriend, then things take a real turn after the ceremony.

But in some ways, this leads Samantha to what will be the best fresh start she will ever have. It will also bolster her confidence, give her some well-deserved respect and make her realise that she is as good as everyone else.

This is a story that is so full of emotion, and not just the happy ones either. There were times where I was so frustrated at how Samantha was being treated, she is such a nice person and has the biggest heart, but this is just what some people need to take advantage and to manipulate.

Samantha has the sort of determination to crack even the grumpiest person and make their lives better for it. Thomas was just what she needed and without realising it, he needed her as well. Their relationship was very special, it brought back forgotten happy memories for both.

This is as much about the bond of friends and family as it is about making changes to life. It’s about taking opportunities and chances and running with them. Most of all it is about fulfilling a long lost dream and surrounding yourself with positive and special people.

A gorgeous book full of beautiful descriptions and it was an absolute pleasure to read. A romance with a whole lot of heart and soul and one I would absolutely recommend.

Jessica Redland is the author of nine novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.


Social Media Links – Instagram – Twitter – Facebook – Website – Blog – Bookbub – Mailing List sign-up

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

The Brave Daughters by Mary Wood @Authormary #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a favourite author of mine. The Brave Daughters by Mary Wood is part of The Girls Who Went to War series.

Let me show you what it is all about…

A moving and emotional family drama set between France and Britain from bestselling author, Mary Wood.

They would fight for their country, at all costs . . .

When Sibbie and Marjie arrive at RAF Digby, they are about to take on roles of national importance. It’s a cause of great excitement for everyone around them. Perhaps they will become code-breakers, spies even? Soon the pair embark on a rigorous training regime, but nothing can prepare them for what they’re about to face . . .

Amid the vineyards of rural France, Flora and Ella can’t bear the thought of another war. But as the thunderclouds grow darker, hanging over Europe, a sense of deep foreboding sets in, not just for their safety but for the fate of their families . . . With danger looming, as the threat of war becomes real, Flora and Ella are forced to leave their idyllic home and flee. Can they make it to safety, or will the war have further horrors in store for them?

The Brave Daughters is the fourth book in the Girls Who Went to War series by Mary Wood.

Buy your copy HERE

(This site uses Amazon affiliated links at no cost to you)

I am a big fan of this author and I have adored reading this series, The Girls Who Went to War. This is sadly the final book in this wonderful series. The first books introduced me to Flora Mags and Ella, I watched as these three girls grew up and overcame various things in their lives. This book is about the women and of their children.

The setting is in Britain and Europe at the start of WWII, having lived through and served during WWI, the women ha devive experienced the horrors. Now they watch as their own children step up to do their duty and serve their countries.

This is a book that I knew would have me reaching for the tissues, to be honest, I do with pretty much all of this authors books. I could feel the nervousness and fear of the parents as well as the fear and the want of doing their part from the children. I call them children, they are adults and are old enough to serve., but to a parent, your child is always a child no matter how grown up they are.

As is the case with conflicts there are going to be casualties. The author does not shy away from death and injury and in doing so she keeps the story feeling realistic. As much as I wanted all the characters to survive unharmed I knew deep down that this would not have been the case.

What the author has done is to provide the story of the next generation, giving them a real-life event to work through. It is emotional and full of danger, and the risk to life is every present, but the author balances this with positives such as love and the hope that there will be a future for them to return to.

Once again, Mary Wood has created a story that has compassion and is full of emotion, there are a couple of surprising twists and she has given a very poignant ending to the series that felt right.

If you love historical fiction that focuses on the strength of women during hard times, that has a wonderful feeling of unity, family and romance then this is a book that you may enjoy. All four books in this series could be read as stand-alone but to be honest you get far more out of them by reading them in order. The Brave Daughters is a wonderful read and one I would definitely recommend.

Born the thirteenth child of fifteen to a middle-class mother and an East End barrow boy, Mary Wood’s family were poor, but rich in love. Over time, she developed a natural empathy with the less fortunate and is fascinated by social history. Mary raised four children and has numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. An avid reader, she first put pen to paper in 1989, and is now a full-time novelist.

Visit Mary on – Website – Twitter – Facebook

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

Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong by Gina Kirkham @GinaGeeJay @zooloo2008 #AuthorTakeover #Bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review of Handcuff’s, Truncheons and a Polyester Thong by Gina Kirkham. This is a book I have had on my TBR for a while and when I knew Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Diary had her #AuthorTakeover featuring Gina I knew it was the perfect opportunity to pick up this book. And the title appeals to me 😁

Over the past few days Zoe and Gina have featured, extracts, Q&A’a, Behind the story features and so much more. There are interviews, reviews and it has been brilliant reading them. Please head over and have a giggle at the antics of Gina and her alter-ego Mavis Upton you will not regret it.

So, let me show you what the book is about…

Will have you laughing out loud and is hugely entertaining. This is a book that oozes charisma and character, one you will not be able to put down – Nikki’s Books4U 

Meet Mavis Upton. As mummy to 7-year old Ella, surrogate to far too many pets and with a failed marriage under her belt, Mavis knows she needs to make some life-changing decisions. It’s time to strike out into the world, to stand on her own two feet … to pursue a lifelong ambition to become a Police Officer. I mean, what could go wrong? 

Supported by her quirky, malapropism-suffering mum, Mavis throws herself headlong into a world of uncertainty, self-discovery, fearless escapades, laughter and extra-large knickers. And using her newly discovered investigative skills, she reluctantly embarks on a search to find her errant dad who was last seen years before, making off with her mum’s much needed coupon for a fabulous foam cup bra all the way from America. 

Follow Mavis as she tackles everything life can throw at her, and revel in Gina Kirkham’s humorous, poignant and moving story of an everyday girl who one day followed a dream. 

Hilarious…real life and so touching, a fabulous read! – Christina Green 

Purchase link – Amazon UK

Oh my goodness this is such a hilarious read. The author has used her own experiences in the Police and gave them to her alter ego – Mavis Upton and adds a little fiction.

The story starts and within a few pages I knew I was going to love this book. Mavis finally does something about her dream job and joins the police. A series of mishaps, some good friends and she has made it.

Now out in the real world her training has provided her with the knowledge to do her job, but her naivety still leaves her open to some of the in-jokes. She does however stand her own and makes her mark.

This book had me giggling, chuckling and laughing out loud so many times. It is just what the doctor ordered for brightening up any day. This is a book that is like a series of anecdotes, some of which you can see coming and others catch you out of the blue. Both sorts are funny no matter how they are delivered.

As this is a story based on experience it does have a semi autobiographic feel but it also has some fiction, but it is so easy to read. A book that readers who like humour, funny stories and just want a good giggle would really enjoy. I thought it was excellent and I would definitely recommend it.

Image taken from Gina’s Author Page on Amazon UK

Gina was born during the not-so-swinging 50’s to a mum who frequently abandoned her in a pram outside Woolworths and a dad who, after two pints of beer, could play a mean Boogie Woogie on the piano in the front room of their 3-bed semi on the Wirral. Being the less adventurous of three children, she remains there to this day – apart from a long weekend in Bognor Regis in 1982.

Her teenage years were filled with angst, a CSE in Arithmetic, pimples, PLJ juice, Barry White and rather large knickers. Marriage and motherhood ensued, quickly followed by divorce in her early thirties and a desperate need for a career and some form of financial support for herself and her daughter. Trundling a bicycle along a leafy path one wintry day, a lifelong passion to be a police officer gave her simultaneously an epiphany and fond memories of her favourite author Enid Blyton and moments of solving mysteries. 

And thus began an enjoyable and fulfilling career with Merseyside Police. 

On reaching an age most women lie about, she quickly adapted to retirement by utilising her policing skills to chase after two granddaughters, two dogs and one previously used, but still in excellent condition, husband. Having said goodbye to what had been a huge part of her life, she suddenly had another wonderful epiphany. This time it was to put pen to paper to write a book based on her experiences as a police officer. 

Lying in bed one night staring at the ceiling and contemplating life as she knew it, Gina’s alter-ego, Mavis Upton was born, ready to star in a humorous and sometimes poignant look at the life, loves and career of an everyday girl who followed a dream and embarked upon a search for the missing piece of her childhood.

Follow Gina on Twitter – Blog – Amazon

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

Swallowtail Summer by Erica James #contemporaryfiction #holidayfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Swallowtail Summer by Erica James. This is an author who I have not read before and after reading Swallowtail Summer I will be keeping my eye for more by her.

Let me show you what this is all about…

It was the summer it all ended . . . It was the summer a new story began.

Linston End has been the summer home to three families for several decades. The memories of their time there are ingrained in their hearts: picnics on the river, gin and tonics in the pavilion at dusk, hours spent seeking out the local swallowtail butterflies. Everyone together. But recently widowed Alastair is about to shock his circle of friends with the decisions he has made – and the changes it will mean for them all… Can these friends learn to live life to its fullest?

Fans of Fern Britton and Katie Fforde will love escaping into summertime with this warm-hearted, uplifting story set in the beauty of the Norfolk Broads.

Do not be taken in by this beautiful cover, there is something dark lurking behind it.

Linston End was left to Alistair, it is a house on the Norfolk Broads and is a place where he and his friends have met up every year. Alistair, Simon and Danny have always been friends, well more brothers than friends. They have all married and some have children. Summer holidays are taken at the house with the families coming together.

This summer is different, this summer Alistair is bringing someone new and his friends are nervous and worried. The newcomer is Valentina, she is the new lady in his life and has a chance at a new start. With changes ahead, tension is ever-present during the summer holiday.

The author has done a wonderful job are creating a stunning setting for Swallowtail Summer, the house sounds like such an idyllic place for old friends and their families to come together. A chance to catch-up and reminisce about old times. But with the arrival of Valentina things are different. There is an air of mistrust at her arrival. The author mentions, partway through the story, that some things from the past have been swept under the carpet, they have been things that others may have been aware of but not voiced. With the added tension of Valentina nerves are a little frayed. Comments are made and past events alluded to, and gradually the ticking time-bomb of the past ignites.

This is a story that is quite captivating as I do like a story with a past, with secrets and with a touch of the dramatic, and this story does have those. It also has the dynamics of family and friends who are close, but apparently not quite as close as they like to think as they have all held something back.

There is quite a lot of intrigue throughout and as to have a fresh start you do have to deal with the past first, it means admitting your part in the events before moving on. I like the way this had all been laid out and then gradually pulled together for quite an ending.

A very enjoyable read that will appeal to readers of a slower-paced story about family, friends, secrets, the past and the future. It is one I would recommend.

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

The Memories We Bury by Helene Leuschel @HALeuschel #PublicationDay #PsychologicalFiction #BookReview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Happy Publication Day to you Helene Leuschel for The Memories We Bury, and many thanks for my review copy for an unbiased review xx

Let me show you what this book is all about…

An emotionally charged and captivating novel about the complexities of female friendship and motherhood, from the author of Manipulated Lives.

Lizzie Thomson has landed her first job as a music teacher, and after a whirlwind romance with Markus, the newlywed couple move into a beautiful new home in the outskirts of Edinburgh. Lizzie quickly befriends their neighbour Morag, an elderly, resourceful yet lonely widow, who’s own children rarely visit her. Everything seems perfect in Lizzie’s life until she finds out she is pregnant and her relationship with both Morag and Markus change beyond her control. 

Can Lizzie really trust Morag and why is Markus keeping secrets from her? 

In The Memories We Bury the author explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.

As the title indicates, this book is about memories, and particularly memories that have been buried been mis-remembered.

The author has taken this story and woven such a compelling read. Lizzie had not had the best of childhoods and her memories are not the best. his leaves her vulnerable to stronger personalities like that of her husband Markus. The couple move next door to Morag, a woman who is lonely and who is eager to help out Lizzie. Her help is invaluable as Lizzie gives birth to her son Jamie.

Over the next few weeks Lizzie and Jamie find the help that Morag gives them to be wonderful, but gradually this help progresses into more. Lizzie is struggling with being a new mum, feeling insecure and it doesn’t help that her husband works away. While the help Morag provides is good, Lizzie would like more time with her son alone.

This is such a deceptive novel and starts quite innocently enough, a neighbour willing to help out and provide aupport when needed, but then the author does something quite special and adds such a good psychological twist to it.

The story alternates between Lizzie and Morag, it delves into their past and their present lives. It builds a bigger picture over the story and had me completely and utterly hooked.

If you are a fan of family life and relationship reads that have secrets and mistrust, deception and manipulation then you are going to love this one. I did! A fabulous read that I would definitely recommend.

Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a Master in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specializing in the study of the mind. 

Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the dangers of interacting with narcissists. 

She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal.

Follow Helene on Twitter

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

Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow #contemporaryfiction #romance #Bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Clover Cottage by Christie Barlow. This is the third book in the Love Heart Lane series and it is a wonderful series, but each book can be read as a stand alone, but why would you want to do that!!!!

Let me show you what it is all about…

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Vet Rory Scott inherits ramshackle Clover Cottage in the quaint village of Heartcross, Allie MacDonald just knows this is their happy ever after. A place to call home with the man she loves – it’s her dream come true!

Until Rory drops a bombshell. He loves Allie but he has dreams of his own to follow – to live and work in Africa. Clover Cottage will have to wait just a little longer…

Allie can’t imagine life without Rory, but she loves him too much to hold him back. And as he embarks on his adventure, Allie begins to rethink her own plans. She loves Rory and knows she wants him in her life, but maybe she can follow her own dreams too?

And always there, nestled in the beautiful village of Heartcross, surrounded by the people she loves, will be the place that will always bring them back to each other. Their forever home, Clover Cottage.

I adore this Love Heart Lane series and Clover Cottage is the third book, it can be easily read as a stand-alone, but why deny yourself of getting to know the fabulous village of Heartcross and its community.

The focus for Clover Cottage is Dr. Ryan Scott, the village vet and his girlfriend Allie MacDonald daughter of the local publicans and photographer. This couple are meant to be together as everyone in the village knows. When the chance to actually move in to Clover Cottage is laid before them, Allie is delighted. Ryan, however, feels as if things have been taken out of his control, he wants to make the decisions about his future with Allie.

He is in partnership with his father at Scott and Sons vets, this is another thing that kind of rankles a bit as Ryan feels like he cannot make any decisions as to how the practice should move forward.

When a TV celebrity arrives to film a series, and also judge the local dog show, it opens new opportunities for some in the village. I have to say I love the idea of a certain new breed of dog, it is still making me smirk! I’m sorry if you have no idea what I am on about… just read the book.

The author has yet again successfully created such a wonderful read. I felt like I was revisiting old friends as I once again wandered the lanes of this wonderful village and the people that live there.

While everything on the surface sounds idyllic there are some subtle nervous tensions loitering in the background. Dreams from younger days are starting to surface, dreams that had been pushed aside to do the right thing or to fill obligations. But now they are resurfacing leading to indecision and the feeling that things crop up just at the wrong time. Just like they seem to in real life.

This is a truly wonderful read, it is full of chuckles as close friends share in jokes and shows how well the friendships have been developed.It is a book to easily lose yourself into and read in one sitting. A book for lovers of contemporary fiction and romance, with a good humorous tone and also some heartwarming scenes. Clover Cottage is a book I would definitely recommend, as I would the others in this series.

Love At First Like by Hannah Orenstein #RomCom #BookReview

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I am delighted to share my review today for Love At first Like by Hannah Orenstein. I read this book a few weeks ago and have a slight delay with sharing non-Blog Tour books, so…

Let me show you what it is all about…

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FAKE THE PERFECT LOVE LIFE?

Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewellery shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper, and in real life he shows promise too – if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is ‘engaged’; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. Now she can either stay engaged online – or fall in love in real life.

The synopsis for this book does a good job of setting the scene. Eliza Roth is a jeweller who accidentally posts a photo and caption of her engagement on Instagram. As her private and business profile are one in the same account she finds herself suddenly getting lots of comments. Unfortunately, she isn’t engaged, she only wishes she was. The photo sees an influx of sales and she decides not to correct her viewers.

The story that follows is how she then goes on to find a stand-in, but when she starts to develop feelings for Blake she knows she should say something, but the longer she leaves it the worse it gets. Apart from immediate family and close friends, no one else knows about this, except a local barman called Raj, he is a new friend in her life and becomes a someone she can easily chat to.

While I did like the idea of this story, there was the odd bit that wound me up. While I do get the reasons behind Eliza’s decision not to tell Blake the truth I found that he reluctance to tell him really wound me up. Blake is not a social media user, but I am sure many of his family and friends are, as that is the way of things in this day and age. I was finding this a little strange as I know myself that if something is mentioned about a friend on social media then it will come up at some point in a conversation either at work or in passing. This just felt a little unbelievable for me.

Overall a good story and one that kept me turning pages and a book that I easily read in an afternoon. A book that did keep me hooked because I wanted to know how it would pan out for all concerned and because of that I would recommend.

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