The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club - Faith Hogan

 

Three women. Three different stages of life. United by one thing: the chance to start again.

 'Uplifting, emotional and brimming with warmth and humour' – Cathy Bramley

When Elizabeth's husband dies, leaving her with crippling debt, the only person she can turn to is her friend, Jo. Soon Jo has called in her daughter, Lucy, to help save Elizabeth from bankruptcy. Leaving her old life behind, Lucy is determined to make the most of her fresh start.

As life slowly begins to return to normal, these three women, thrown together by circumstance, become fast friends. But then Jo's world is turned upside down when she receives some shocking news.

In search of solace, Jo and Elizabeth find themselves enjoying midnight dips in the freezing Irish Sea. Here they can laugh, cry and wash away all their fears. As well as conjure a fundraising plan for the local hospice that will bring the whole community together...

From bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan, The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club is an emotional story about finding new friends and living life to the fullest, that will appeal to fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Heidi Swain and Liz Fenwick.

 

My Review:

One of those life affirming, inspiring reads that stays with you long after you close the book. I was absolutely charmed by this book; Faith Hogan has written a book full of emotion and spirit, with characters you will take instantly to your heart. Touching on Irelands history of forced adoption as well as homosexuality, illness and the true impact that living a lie can have on all the people trying to maintain a level of respectability and responsibility within their local and small community.

Faith Hogan paints a gorgeous scenic picture, it isn’t hard to imagine ourselves in Ballycove and taking a dip in the Irish Sea.

With the focus on the three ladies, Elizabeth, Jo and Lucy, we have three people in very different situations, all dealing with things that are weighing them down. They find some freedom, calm and release in the midnight dips in that freezing water. It was good to see the story told from their points of view and how each character impacted and supported the rest. Each character is special in their own way, seeing the growth and independence of Elizabeth and the inspirational strength of Jo.

Although there are serious themes and emotional moments (grab the tissues!) it is littered with moments of humour that provide a nice balance. Faith Hogan’s writing is brilliant, the story is very well paced and engaging – I didn’t want to put it down!

Heartwarming, tender and will enrich your heart, I highly recommend this book – definitely one of my favourites this year. 

About the author

Faith Hogan is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of five contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favourites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women's fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.

She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!

Follow Faith:

Facebook: @faithhoganauthor

Twitter: @gerhogan

Website: www.Facebook/FaithHogan.com

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PtPN2C

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2Pv0K3X

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3vrHN1y

Apple: https://apple.co/3sX4XuP

Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/3aNtmwL

Waterstones: https://bit.ly/32SOgWP

Easons (Ireland only): https://bit.ly/3sUxpNX

Life's A Beach - Portia MacIntosh

 

Sun, sea and inescapable exes...

Peach is excited to hear that her sister, Di, is getting married. Of course, she would have preferred her little sister to be engaged to someone she's known longer than a week - and the fact that his name is Charles doesn't bode well - but who is she to judge?! Afterall, her own love life is non-existent, and who doesn't love a destination wedding...?

Whisked away to the gorgeous Italian coast, Peach assumes her role as chief bridesmaid and, despite her reservations about the groom, she tries to ensure everything goes to plan.

But weddings are never straightforward affairs... throw in some unexpected guests in the form of ex-boyfriends and one night stands, and soon enough there is more drama than a reality tv show.

Can Peach keep the show on the road, or might she end up in a whirlwind romance of her own...?

Escape to the stunning Italian coast with bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald and Mhairi MacFarlane.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3aRO92I

My Review:

I’m a long-time fan of books by Portia MacIntosh and I always look forward to the next release. I thoroughly enjoy her writing style, there is comedy, emotion, drama, and romance everything unfolds at a good pace. MacIntosh always provides a fun, easy read that will entertain. The characters in Portia’s books are always realistic, loveable characters and this time is no exception. I think Peach is brilliant, and Matt sounds like a dream! They were both strong characters but completely likeable – even when you think Matt is no good. I really liked Van, although I grew quite uncertain of her motives at points. I didn’t think I would grow to like Charles at all, I disliked him but by the end I found myself quite charmed by him. It might be interesting to see how he (and everyone) would react if all the secrets of the past had come to light There was an awful lot crammed into this story, entertaining but at times it was quite full on. A lot of characters in one place with secrets and twists, a couple of things never seemed to be resolved and a couple of characters just seemed to fade away by the end. I would have been interested to see what happened if a couple of other scenarios played out. This book has brilliant characters and fun storylines, it was highly entertaining, and I would recommend for an easy, relaxing read. Thank you to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 16 novels, including The Plus One Pact and My Great Ex-Scape. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real-life experiences.

 

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh

Italy Ever After - Leonie Mack

 

Escape to the sun and head off to Italy, with the wonderfully warm and ever-so-page-turning Leonie Mack!

TV journalist Lou feels battered and bruised after her divorce from Phil, the father of her daughter Edie. Her confidence and sense of fun have steadily been drained away, and she isn’t sure who she is any more.

When the opportunity arises to accompany Edie on a music camp in Italy for a month in the summer, Lou jumps at the chance for new adventures, new horizons and new friends. The hazy warmth of the summer sun, shining brightly over the stunning Lake Garda, slowly brings Lou back to life. 

Nick Romano, Edie’s music teacher, loves being home in Italy, but coaching his students for their concert in Milan, is bringing back difficult memories. His blossoming friendship with Lou is the perfect distraction, although a summer fling would be easier to conduct without the scrutiny of his mother Greta, not to mention the interference of his extended Italian family.

As the summer passes, full of sunshine and breath-taking scenery, gelato and delicious feasts, Lou and Nick get ever closer. But as the time for farewell creeps up on them, will they be able to say goodbye and leave their memories behind in the Italian sun, or can a summer romance last a lifetime?

Leonie Mack is back with a sizzling, sun-baked love story, perfect for all fans of Mandy Baggot, Jo Thomas and Carole Matthews.

Purchase Links: https://amzn.to/3qfXhDq

My Review:

A heart warming tale of soul searching, believing in yourself and acceptance. This Italian based story will have you hankering after a holiday in the sun. Leonie Mack transports us to gorgeous Italy with fantastic descriptions of the food, scenery, language, and culture.

It was really interesting to see how the relationships between the characters changed over the course of the book; whether that was Lou’s relationship with her ex-husband, with music teacher Nick, or whether it was Nick’s relationship with music.

Lou did bother me – I just wanted to stop her searching endlessly for a talent, her self-confidence and belief is at a low and understandably so, but as a character that seemed interesting and engaging, I was a little annoyed she couldn’t see all the qualities everyone else could or take their compliments!

Nick clearly has his own issues, with talent in abundance, his own past demons still play a role in his lack of self-worth and often he seemed grumpy or hot headed. A catalogue of miscommunication and misunderstandings often get in the way of him and Lou throughout the duration of their stay in Italy resulting in Lou having to take extreme action to make her point.

An interesting story, with lovely characters, some fun and laughter as well as fantastic descriptions.

Highly recommend for a summer read. 

Author Bio:

Leonie Mack is a debut novelist whose first book My Christmas Number One was published by Boldwood in September 2020. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!

 

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeonieMAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leoniejmack/

Newsletter Sign Up Link: https://bit.ly/LeonieMackNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leonie-mack

Every Little Breath - Keri Beevis

 

How much could one phone call change your life?

‘Only you can save her. If she dies, it is your fault.’

When radio presenter, Casey Fallon, answers a call she assumes it is a prank. But then a woman’s body is discovered, and she finds herself up against a cruel and calculating killer who wants her to find his victims before they take their last breath.

Fifteen years ago, Casey was a key witness in the trial of serial killer, Steve Noakes, and her evidence helped put him behind bars for the murders of five women.

Someone remembers what happened that summer. Someone who is desperate for revenge. Someone who won’t stop until Casey has been punished.

‘You saved a life once. Can you do it again?’

The game is just beginning…

Number one bestselling author Keri Beevis is back with a breathtaking new psychological thriller which is simply too good to miss. It's the perfect read for fans of authors like Clare Mackintosh, Cara Hunter, Paula Hawkins.

 

My Review:

This is the first book I’ve read from Keri Beevis but I’m definite tat it will not be my last. Wow, what an incredible read.

Gripped from the start, this book took me on a thrilling, twisted journey to the very last page. There were moments I was holding my breath with anticipation or fear. The plot is complex and quite dark in its descriptions in places, I think there was a good balance between the descriptive, harrowing scenes where it was grim to imagine to the rest of the book.

I liked the pace of the storyline, nothing seemed to drag on at all and I was kept on my toes. I found it so engaging I read it completely in one fantastic afternoon. Very well written, I felt a vast range of emotions from disgusted to mortified, sympathetic to scared and intrigued.

A cast of characters so different and unique; there are nice, likeable characters, worrying and troublesome characters, honest characters who support Casey throughout, and those out to cause trouble. There are some real shocks in the latter part of the book, I didn’t see them coming, well except perhaps that final twist at the end.

I won’t go into depth regarding the plot as I think the beauty in this is not knowing and the synopsis sums it up perfectly.

I hope this is the start of a series as the ending left me wanting more, please say there will be more.

Dramatic, twisted and captivating. A must read!

Purchase Links

PAPERBACK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Little-Breath-Keri-Beevis/dp/1913942295
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1913942295

KINDLE
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Little-Breath-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B092DMJPQC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DMJPQC

AUDIO
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Little-Breath/dp/B091BHWGND
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Breath/dp/B091BHTWK5

GOODREADS
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56822669-every-little-breath

 

Author Bio:

Keri Beevis is the internationally bestselling author of Dying To Tell and Deep Dark Secrets. Her new psychological thriller, Trust No One, was released November 2020.

Keri lives in Norfolk, England, with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel). She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

 

Social Media Links – www.facebook.com/allaboutbeev

www.twitter.com/keribeevis

www.instagram.com/keribeevis/

Primrose Park - Christie Barlow

 

Vet Molly has always been career driven and focussed on caring for her animals, but when she meets a gorgeous Mystery Man at a conference and their connection is off the charts, well, one night off work won’t hurt anyone…except the next morning he’s vanished and all Molly knows about him is his first name.

Three months later, back in Love Heart Lane, everyone loves the story of Molly's amazing one-night stand.  It's so unlike her! But when Mystery Man turns up walking his dog through Primrose Park and their night together seems to mean nothing to him, Molly needs her friends and neighbours more than ever. And especially when she’s left with the most unexpected of surprises…

My Review:

I am a huge fan of the author and especially this book series. It is the sixth book in the Love Heart Lane Series although written so it can be a standalone as they all are. I would recommend reading the others, just because they are such great stories, but that isn’t necessary to follow the storyline or get to know these main characters (I did love hearing a little about one’s we’ve already heard from though!)

Molly is the successful, confident, and popular local vet. She has almost everything she wants in life but feels there may be one thing missing and it might be time to do something about it. She’s known locally as the dog whisperer and wants to put these talents to use by setting up dog behaviour classes in Primrose Park. As she is always determined to be the best at whatever she does, she goes on a course at a local hotel. There she literally bumps into the man of her dreams and after one amazing night they part ways and Molly goes back to work on her business.

When Molly bumps into this mystery man again her world changes in the most unexpected ways, the problem? The man isn’t exactly how she remembers him, in fact she barely recognises him. Getting the community together to help her cause Molly isn’t afraid of standing up for herself or others, but does she really want to do everything alone or is she hoping to get him involved.

I really liked Molly, she’s not shy and not one for mixing her words. She’s capable and puts other peoples’ feelings before her own, to her detriment sometimes. She’s not necessarily good at following advice though as she is headstrong and determined once she gets an idea in her head. I was hoping she would be the one to help poor Dixie – whose own daughter was truly awful beyond words- they had a lovely relationship.

Cam is a difficult leading man, I wanted to really love him, but I have to admit at first I didn’t really warm to him, especially with how badly he acted toward Molly. I was 100% on her side and felt that she deserved better but as his story came to light, I saw the type of person he could be and I changed my mind.  They did have a great chemistry and testament to Christie Barlow’s writing, Cam won me over by the end.

A quick shout out for Darling. I absolutely loved this crazy dog although I’d be wearing my wellies around him. Darling added some funny moments but turned into quite the hero too!

Always great to be back in this community setting, I feel like I could visit and know all the locals and each book uncovers more. Christie has created a wonderful, caring community that I love returning to time and time again.

The writing flows nicely and the story moves a long at a great pace. I found this visit to be dramatic and yet still able to make me laugh and smile whilst reading. It only took me a few hours to sit and read this in one glorious sitting, I can’t recommend highly enough – a wonderful bit of escapism. Jump into Primrose Park if you want a nice summer read.

Christie Barlow goes from strength to strength; I always look forward to her next read. Primrose Park is brilliant, and I highly recommend.

Purchase  Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DR8PGSQ 

US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DR8PGSQ

Author Bio:

Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie's dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn't writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale's Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Social Media Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

Facebook page Christie Barlow author

A Taste of Home - Heidi Swain

 

Fliss Brown has grown up living with her mother on the Rossi family’s Italian fruit farm. But when her mother dies, Fliss finds out she has a family of her own, and heads back to England with Nonna Rossi’s recipe for cherry and almond tart and a piece of advice: connect with your family before it is too late…

Fliss discovers that her estranged grandfather owns a fruit farm himself, on the outskirts of Wynbridge, and she arrives to find a farm that has fallen into disrepair. Using her knowledge gleaned from working on the Rossi farm and her desire to find out more about her past, Fliss rolls her sleeves up and gets stuck in. But what will she discover, and can she resurrect the farm’s glory days and find a taste of home…?

My Review:
Whenever I want a gorgeous, comfortable read from an author I adore I know I can always rely on Heidi to provide a hug in book form. Always warm and cosy, Heidi's books are special and leave you feel all emotional and fuzzy. I have been a huge fan for the longest time now and I always look forward for my next ‘fix’ #Swainette for life here.

‘A Taste of Home’ is a gorgeous, summer filled read that will have you craving strawberries like never before.
We meet Fliss after the death of her Mum, surrounded by her Italian ‘surrogate’ family. A letter from her Mum details last wishes that Fliss reconnect with family she never realised she had. So, a trip to the UK and our wonderful Wynbridge is quickly organised.

What Fliss discovers is so much more than she ever imagined, and I won’t spoil it and say too much but this book just highlights the importance of family and understanding where you come from. Although we haven’t met the majority of these characters, they are now firm favourites, and I can’t wait to see them again; you also come across some old favourites too which is always nice. Don’t worry – if this is your first Heidi Swain book, it is a standalone book, but I do recommend all her previous books as they are fantastic.

‘A Taste of Home’ is full of heart and emotion. It will make you laugh; make you cry and will leave you feeling content. I highly recommend, it will make the perfect summer beach read, cosy on up and take a trip to Wynbridge via Italy.

Purchase 'A Taste of Home' - HERE

About Heidi Swain:

Sunday Times Best-selling author with a passion for vintage, hearth & home.

Creating wonderful communities and characters. Find out more -

Website: https://heidiswain.co.uk/

Check out the blog: http://heidiswain.blogspot.com/

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

Another Life - Jodie Chapman

 

She could be the girl dancing on tables one night, and the next she'd be hiding in the shadows.

Just when I thought I understood her, she would melt away and become a completely new person, and I'd have to start all over again.

That's how it was with Anna.

_______

Nick and Anna work the same summer job at their local cinema. Anna is mysterious, beautiful, and from a very different world to Nick.

She's grown up preparing for the end of days, in a tightly-controlled existence where Christmas, getting drunk and sex before marriage are all off-limits.

So when Nick comes into her life, Anna falls passionately in love. Their shared world burns with poetry and music, cigarettes and conversation - hints of the people they hope to become.

But Anna, on the cusp of adulthood, is afraid to give up everything she's ever believed in, and everyone she's ever loved. She walks away, and Nick doesn't stop her.

Years later, a tragedy draws Anna back into Nick's life.

My Review:

This debut from Jodie Chapman combines love, family, belief, restrictions, and self-awareness. It is the ultimate love story of Nick and Anna, spanning decades. It isn’t the boy meets girl straight forward romance, it’s lust and desire mixed with commitment, sacrifice and doing what is believed to be right.

For Anna, the problem is her strictly religious family of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a family she both loves and respects as well as one that provides restrictions, for example for her to be in an unmarried relationship, more so with a non-believer, would not be tolerated. Although Anna is torn, Nick knows he cannot stand in her way, the path she has accepted, and done so without any protest.

Nick is an interesting and somewhat charming character. With traumatic events darkening his early years, Nick seeks love, he craves the familiarity of having someone who cares for him with no expectations or questions, who will understand the struggles he has, the difficulties which hold him back.

 I thought the insight into Annas life as a Jehovah’s Witness point of view, was brilliant and not something I had too much knowledge on. I think the complexity of what Anna felt was carefully shown throughout, a clear struggle between what she wanted and what she thought she should do.

A book full of emotion, it resonated with me and stayed with me long after finishing. It’s very well written, and hard to believe this is Jodie’s first novel. Refreshing to see the story from a male point of view. Expect a book that will tear your heart into pieces, put it together to break it open again.

Highly recommended.

Available to purchase HERE