Showing posts with label sisters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sisters. Show all posts

Monday, 5 February 2024

The Girl She Left Behind - Jo Bartlett

 


Brand new from best-selling author Jo Bartlett, an emotional and uplifting read, guaranteed to break your heart and put it back together again.

A family in turmoil...

Phoebe Spencer left home a long time ago, desperate to get away from her mother's emotional manipulation. She knows her life is better away from her family, but she can’t help feeling she’s simply running away from her problems…

Then Phoebe hears that her younger sister Lucy has disappeared, leaving behind her four-year old daughter, Darcy. Phoebe's certain Lucy will be back soon - she'd never leave Darcy alone - and then Phoebe can get on with her life again.

But as the days pass there's still no sign of Lucy, and everyone begins to fear the worst. Phoebe has to consider the terrible truth that Lucy might never come home. And as their mother makes it clear she wants to take control of Darcy’s life, Phoebe must do all she can to protect the girl her sister left behind – no matter the cost to her.

A brand new emotional read from bestselling author Jo Bartlett.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/GirlBehindSocial

My Review:

I’ve been a fan of this author for a while, enjoyed her previous book enormously and jumped at the chance to read ‘The girl she left behind.’

Was it truly what I expected? Based on my previous enjoyment of Jo’s books I knew it would be excellently written, with good characters and not shying away from some bigger, realistic issues – what I didn’t expect was the darker, intense storylines; the pain, the sadness nor the themes it includes.

Did this mean I enjoyed it any the less? Absolutely not!  It’s an incredible read, a fantastic story that shows Jo’s brilliant skill as a writer to tackle such issues; narcissism, suicide, childhood trauma whilst bringing a powerful story that does give wonderful characters, heart wrenching moments and some resolution.

Phoebe escaped once, left behind her childhood pain and narcissistic Mum, but now finds herself having to go back. Her sister is missing with many believing her disappearance to be a suicide; the note left behind says Phoebe must take care of her daughter. Whilst the search for Lucy continues, Phoebe cares for Darcy with the help of neighbour, Jamie, and friends; she is determined her parents don’t get any chance to cause the damage to Darcy they did to her.  Phoebe is determined her sister would never abandon gives Darcy, she loved her, but with each passing day it looks less likely Lucy could return. When she receives a letter from Lucy, Phoebe does all she can to figure out what has happened to her sister and when she realises those around her haven’t been fully honest, she questions everything.

Reading about their Mum, the narcissism, the pain she caused as well as the lasting damage; it was shocking at times. You really did dislike her character from the start, no chinks of anything redeemable and think the implied ending is probably long over due and not a surprise.

It is an emotional read in so many ways, the characters are real and how their emotions are depicted has an impact. I think Darcy is a source of positivity – the love she has for those around her, the innocence and upset all rolled into one small person.

This book contained so much drama and many revelations, yet it didn’t feel rushed. Once I’d started reading, I didn’t really want to put it down.

Excellent read, highly recommend – just expect something darker if you’ve read any of hers before. 

Author Bio:

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Her first title for Boldwood is The Cornish Midwife – part of a twelve-book deal.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/J_B_Writer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo_bartlett123/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JoBartlettNews

Bookbub profile: Jo Bartlett Books - BookBub



Monday, 3 July 2023

The Lottery Win, Little Duck Pond Café - Rosie Green

 

Krystle has always yearned to live a different kind of life, so when she hits the jackpot, quite literally, she's over the moon. At last she'll get the chance to live in a gorgeous house, drive the car of her dreams and maybe even track down that elusive soulmate at last! It all sounds perfect – but can reality ever live up to your dreams?

My Review:

A series I love,  I always look forward to the next book. Whilst there was little Duck Pond Café in this book, we still have that sense of community and we still come across familiar characters.

Krystle has got herself in a little bit of trouble and really doesn’t want to have to seek the help of her twin, who always has her life together. Krystle really surprised me at the start, I hadn’t imagined the character getting herself into such a pickle, she seemed a bit immature and I think this only served to emphasise how much she developed and matured as the story progressed.

Who hasn’t dreamt of winning the lottery at some point? When Carries numbers come up she automatically shares with her twin, and it happened just in the nick of time.

Krystle does get a little carried away at first and becomes wary of people getting in touch just because of the win. Her ex suddenly wants to see her, and other men suddenly seem quite keen; she isn’t sure who she can actually trust, especially when things don’t seem to really add up. She keeps being told things but finding evidence to prove they are lies, can she actually trust the people around her anymore? Adam is her best friend, he keeps her grounded and since one snog, Krystle has wondered if there could be any more between them.

We certainly had some twists and turns with this one, at the start I wasn’t fully keen on Krystle but she grew on me as we read on. I think this is a wonderful addition to the series, it can be read as a standalone though so don’t worry if you haven’t had chance to catch up yet.

A fun, light-hearted novella with loveable characters and of course, Rosie's wonderful writing style that keeps you entertained throughout.  

Purchase Link

https://amzn.to/42S4f5s

Author Bio:


Rosie’s series of Little Duck Pond Café novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. ‘The Cheesecake Challenge’ is out now. Look out for ‘A Kiss under the Stars’, out in August 2023.

Follow Rosie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88






Thursday, 13 January 2022

A Wedding at Hedgehog Hollow - Jessica Redland

 

It's time for the wedding we've all been waiting for...

Life at Hedgehog Hollow is never dull, although Samantha hopes that the new year ahead will be a little less chaotic as she prepares to marry the love of her life, Josh. But disaster strikes when she checks the rescue centre's bank account after the festive season and discovers it has been emptied. Who would do such a thing, and why? With the future of Hedgehog Hollow now in jeopardy, planning a wedding has lost its shine.

Phoebe is desperate to escape the shadow of her family, infamously known for their attacks on Samantha's beloved rescue centre. Could the kindness of the Hedgehog Hollow team be the chance she needs for a fresh start, or will her family's secrets continue to drag her back?

My Review:

A lovely return to Hedgehog Hollow, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this next book in the hedgehog loving series and let me say – the wait was worth it!

I flew through this book; I just didn’t want to put it down as I was so keen to know what was happening. Jessica Redland has been so clever in encompassing many issues within this storyline, tackling some very serious and sensitive problems that will have readers riding an emotional rollercoaster. I was ranging from outraged to concerned, from upset but then full of hope, with lots of happiness and a heart full of love.

Whilst we primarily are catching up with Sam and her wonderful family/friends and hogs, we are also given a chance to discover Phoebe’s story. She is the accountant Sam has sources vis the local college and she has more then one secret she is trying to hide.

The more I read of Phoebes life, the angrier I became. Working in the profession I do; this is something I hear of regularly and it never changes how it makes you feel; Jessica Redland has done such a clever job incorporating this storyline into the book.

Sam’s character is slowly moving forwards after events in the past but that doesn’t mean she’s completely over them; when reminders threaten to set back the progress, she’s made she must be careful with choices she makes regarding the people she keeps close by.

An excellent and very enjoyable read, even if a little hard going to at time. I will (impatiently) wait for the next book in the series and see what happens next at Hedgehog Hollow.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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

Author Bio:

Jessica Redland is the top 10 bestselling author of over thirteen novels, including The Secret to Happiness. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.





Social Media Links:
 

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

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

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter



Thursday, 28 January 2021

Faking It - Portia MacIntosh

 

The perfect house, the perfect husband and the perfect life... or is she just faking it?

Life has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Ella. Growing up as the 'less successful' identical twin to her 'perfectly successful' sister, Emma, has left her feeling isolated, inadequate and let's face it.. a little bitter.

When Emma unexpectedly reaches out to Ella in a time of need, Ella suddenly finds herself with the opportunity to fill in for her sister and experience how the other half live.

But as Ella navigates the world of gossiping mothers, rebellious teens and trying to play the model housewife (not to mention avoiding the temptation of attractive men at the school gates...) will she discover that all is not always as it seems on the other side?

Discover the brilliantly funny new romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Ranald and Lindsey Kelk

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3eF5ah3


My Review:

A classic Portia MacIntosh book – full of laugh out loud scenes and unbelievable moments! I LOVE Portia’s books; they never fail to make me smile and I thoroughly enjoy them every time. I am a bug fan and always look forward to the next.

Twins, Ella and Emma, have barely seen each other in years – they may be identical, but they are definitely not a like in any way. Their lives couldn’t be more different and when a situation arises Ella’s help is needed like never before.

I absolutely adored how well Ella adapted and changed during her time with her sister’s family. We were painted a picture of her being a bit (understatement!) of a disaster, but she really does come into her own and find her strengths during this time. I really liked her and hoped she could do well. 

Such an entertaining and fun storyline, with lots of funny characters. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming – fun little curveball there for everyone.

"Faking it" is a lovely story about family and keeping close to the ones around you. I definitely recommend to others.

Author Bio:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of over 15 novels, including My Great Ex-Scape and Honeymoon For One. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real life experiences.

 



Social Media Links:

Newsletter sign up: http://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNewsletter

https://portiamacintosh.com/

https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia

https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh

http://instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor

http://bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh


Sunday, 13 September 2020

Autumn Skies over Ruby Falls - Holly Martin

 


Get swept away to the sparkling Cornish coast with the stunning new novel from bestselling author Holly Martin. Autumn Skies Over Ruby Falls is the perfect romantic treat to snuggle up with this autumn.

Clover Philips is exactly where she’s meant to be – back home on Jewel Island teaching dance to the guests at the beautiful Sapphire Bay Hotel that she co-owns with her sisters Skye and Aria. Her life is complete, except for one thing…

When Clover left London she also left behind a devastating betrayal. She hasn’t been able to date anyone since, let alone allow herself to fall in love. What she needs is a casual fling to ease herself back into romance. And as luck would have it, the very handsome Angel Mazzeo is back in town.

The chemistry between Clover and Angel has been undeniable ever since Angel first arrived on Jewel Island six months ago. And though content to be her friend till now, Angel is more than willing to help Clover find her dating feet again.

It should be easy to keep things carefree when love is off the table, but when every moment is magical what started as casual soon becomes something much deeper. Will Clover and Angel find the courage to tell each other how they really feel? And is Clover ready to do the one thing she swore she’d never do again, fall in love?

My Review:
A complete joy to be on Jewel Island again, especially at the Sapphire Bay hotel. I enjoyed meeting the characters previously and was happy that this time we focus more on Clover. The setting sounds absolutely stunning, I wish we could take a holiday right here!
Clover co-owns the hotel with her sisters and is now back on the island teaching some dance classes. She is a loveable character and we know she has been badly treated by an ex, which has left her damaged and reluctant to trust again especially romantically.
We do, however, know she really likes a certain someone and that its entirely possible the feeling is mutual. Angel is full of wanderlust, loving to travel and see as much as the world as he possible can, he doesn’t tend to commit which sounds ideal to Clover when the sparks start flying between the pair. Angel knows her history and is perfect – he is patient, caring, understanding and just dreamy if you ask me.
Holly Martin gives us the romance, to warm and fuzzies but also a bit of drama to add some excitement. I love all Holly Martin books, they are wonderful and charming, with characters you get to understand and take to your heart.
We see Clover really come into her own in this book, she understands herself and her feelings and allows herself to be open to change. I didn’t necessarily bank on the happy ending or fairy-tale romance ending for this one (although hoped for it because Angel sounds perfect) but I think the most important part of this story was how she learned to trust again.
You can read this as a standalone but please treat yourself to all of Holly’s books too, never disappoints and perfect for snuggling up to read.

Available to purchase HERE

Saturday, 13 June 2020

The Summer Island Swap - Samantha Tonge


About the book

Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you least expect...

After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of the five-star getaway her sister has booked them on. White sands, cocktails, massages, the Caribbean is calling to them.

But the sisters turn up to tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. It turns out that at the last minute Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort.

So now Sarah's battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape. Life on a desert island though isn't all doom and gloom. They're at one with nature, learning about each other and making new friends. And Sarah is distracted by the dishy, yet incredibly moody, island leader she's sure is hiding a secret.

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Mandy Baggot and Heidi Swain.

My Review:


Summer Island Swap is an easy to read story about Sarah, who is dreaming of the perfect relaxing get-away with her sister. In a twist, she is not going on the all-inclusive, glamourous getaway but instead she is on a conservation trip for the whole month (her sister secretly swapped trips before they were set to go

Will Sarah stick at it or will she decide that it really isn’t her thing and head home?

I have to admit, it took me a good while to get into this one… I found it a bit slow at first but once we really got into the project on the island, I was all in. To be honest I was angry for Sarah and would have been fully supportive if she’d had upped and left, by the end though I was so glad she stays to suffer it out.

With a whole cast of interesting characters, all with their own wonderful backgrounds and story, you will laugh out loud, by sympathetic and even be annoyed by people at various parts of the story. Keep an eye out for the fantastic, fun and entertaining Chatty though – my favourite character.

The Summer Island Swap is a sweet book to read and was enjoyable, I definitely saw things from a new point of view. It’s well written and had me dreaming of the next time I can go on holiday!

About the Author

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK with her husband and children. She studied

German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.
When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women's magazines. 
She is represented by the Darley Anderson literary agency. In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2018 Forgive Me Not, heralded a new direction into darker women's fiction with publisher Canelo. In 2019 she was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association romantic comedy award




Follow Samantha

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Twitter: @SamTongeWriter




Buy links:

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

Kobo: https://bit.ly/333XuPn

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2IuyI1q



Friday, 8 May 2020

Sing me a Secret - Julie Houston


About the book
The four Sutherland sisters have all had very different paths in life, but one secret and a slighty tense production of Jesus Christ Superstar are about to bring them all back together again…

When the news that pop-superstar Lexia Sutherland is returning to Westenbury, not everyone is thrilled by the news – including Lexia. There are too many memories she doesn’t need to face – or need re-surfacing. Meanwhile, Juno Sutherland just wants a little peace and quiet.

As the local village doctor, she’s got her priorities in order; kids, job, husband, tenacious pony, a role in the village musical… So when the sexy new locum turns up – and steals her office – the last thing she needed was to be hit with rising temperatures and an over-active imagination.

Will these sisters be able to uncover the past, deal with the future and put on the performance of a lifetime?




My Review:

A charm of a book, a gorgeous read that will have you laughing out loud and will warm your heart. If this is a snapshot of village life, then I would love to be part of this kind of community.


As with families there are secrets as well as the emotional ups and downs but as you read through the story you do see strong family bonds, sisterly love, and support as they work through problems and situations.


Brilliantly written, I immediately felt like I knew these characters and that they were friends who I cared for.  Overcoming adversity, using the power of song to come together with each other and the community.

Julie Houston writes with nice attention to detail; characters feel realistic and the story develops at a lovely pace.

A genuinely uplifting book that I recommend for those looking to get lost in a book.


Highly enjoyable!

Buy links:

About the author

Julie Houston is the author of THE ONE SAVING GRACE, GOODNESS, GRACE AND ME and LOOKING FOR LUCY, a Kindle top 100 general bestseller and a Kindle #1 bestseller. She is married, with two teenage children and a mad cockerpoo and, like her heroine, lives in a West Yorkshire village. She is also a teacher and a magistrate.






Sunday, 15 March 2020

The Prized Girl - Amy K. Green


From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.

Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.

But for Jenny’s case and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.

My Review:


A fantastic debut from Amy K. Green, I thoroughly enjoyed this tense, thrilling drama. I will look forward to what comes next from Green.


With the whole town morning local beauty queen, 16-year-old Jenny, we read on as her sister, haunted by her own childhood issues, seeks the truth about what happened.


 The story is told from both Jenny’s point of view and that of her much older sister, Virginia. We see that Jenny isn’t the happy, sweet and innocent girl people think she is whilst Virginia isn’t the selfish, loner we may have initially thought. The different perspectives help the story unfold in a brilliant way, and as we got further into the book, I realised there would be more twists and turns more than I thought would. 


The characters are not the most ‘likeable’ but I didn’t mind that at all with this book, in fact in was interesting to see the flaws or issues with each one. I did sympathise for some of them and it was clear to see they were only the way they were because of the actions and treatment from others. 


It is a real, interwoven, dark story that kept me gripped. It was very well written and paced nicely, not much given away too soon but just enough to keep me interested throughout.

The ending – oh the ending! Not at all what I expected, and if I’m honest still not entirely sure what I think but it was different. Also left me wondering if we would be seeing some more from this set of characters.


A book I will happily recommend to others. 


Thank you to HQ for a copy of this book to read and review honestly.  


Saturday, 25 January 2020

The Hopes And Triumphs of The Amir Sisters - Nadiya Hussain

Synopsis:

Mae has watched as her three older sisters have gone through the process of finding their place in the world and faced the challenges of parenthood head on. Now ready to spread her wings beyond her close-knit family, Mae is ready to take the world by storm.


But a series of events will shake the strong self-belief Mae has always had in herself and will leave her questioning where it is she really fits in.

The Amir sisters will need to draw on all the love they have for each other, if they are going to navigate the challenges life has to throw at them and help Mae along the path to self-discovery.

My Review:


Thank you to HQ Stories and Jessica Lee for the opportunity to read and review this charming read. I must admit I didn’t realise this was part of a series at first and generally I always try to read books in order but my enjoyment or understanding of this book was hindered by this. There was enough backstory included throughout that added context where needed.

I really felt for Mae for most of the time, even if she verged on being a little selfish at times. Clearly surrounded by people who have a lot going on, the family is busy and chaotic, but they love each other and are all just trying to find their way through their lives the best they can.

Being 19 and unsure of where you fit in can be hard and this book delicately shows how it might not always go right, but you must push through, fight the battles and make the choices you need to in order to find your own way.

This is a lovely read, nothing too intense or that will leave you with many questions. I enjoyed how we gently navigated themes of family, love, sexuality and cultural traditions. It is well written with characters that are likeable and entertaining.

I’ll definitely recommend this book for fans of the author and those looking for a warm, funny read.

About the Author:


Nadiya Hussain rose to fame after winning the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off. She was one of the most memorable contestants ever due to her captivating smile and inspirational winner’s speech. Since winning, Nadiya has presented the BBC documentaries The Chronicles of Nadiya, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, Nadiya’s Family Favourites. She has also co-presented The Big Family Cooking Showdown and Junior Bake Off and is a regular guest on The One Show.
Her cookery books and cookery/story books for children have reached bestseller status and include Nadiya’s Family Favourites, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, Nadiya’s Kitchen and the Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story trilogy. Nadiya has also written two novels – The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters and The Fall and Rise of the Amir Sisters. Her first picture book, My Monster and Me, is publishing in October 2019, as is Finding My Voice, an emotive look at the different roles Nadiya plays in her life and how they have shaped her.
Nadiya makes regular appearances at cookery events throughout the UK and abroad, including the BBC Good Food Show and many more, and has featured in the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women list. She also features regularly in the media with columns in The Times and previously BBC Good Food Magazine and Essentials.
Nadiya lives with her husband Abdal and their three children in Milton Keynes.