As the winter snow falls on the small Irish village of Ballybray, Roisin O’Connor and her young son, Ben, are saying goodbye to their beloved neighbour Mabel Murphy. Mabel lived a bold and colourful life, but the arrival of her brooding nephew, ‘blow-in’ Aidan Murphy, just makes life more complicated for Roisin.
However, in one final act of love, a message arrives from Mabel that changes everything. And as winter turns to spring and the cold snow melts, the secrets both Roisin and Aidan are hiding must be revealed at last…
I absolutely adore this author and this is quite possibly my new favourite book. This is just a perfectly warm little burst of happiness in a perfect little package. I have adored this from start to finish. I absolutely love that this book is set in Ireland, especially as this is somewhere I want to visit Rome and time again.
This is another absolutely fantastic and heartwarming tale from the queen of hearts. There is nothing negative I can say about this book, the plot flows effortlessly and the characters are absolutely stunning. I have loved this book and would go as far as saying this is one of my favourites of the year.
This is a magical read which is guaranteed to leave you smiling and with a fuzzy warm feeling in your heart. I absolutely loved this book and every moment reading this one. I highly recommend this book. A definite five star read.
Absolutely delighted to share my review of this one.
Manchester, November 1940
As the war continues and secrets threaten the railway girls, they will discover the true meaning of friendship.
———————————
ForDot, her job on the railways is everything. Transporting parcels around the country gives her pride that she is doing her bit for the war effort, but a growing friendship causes problems when home and work collide.
Joanloves her boyfriend Bob dearly, but when tragedy strikes, her heart is torn apart, and she is forced to make a decision that could hurt those she loves most.
MeanwhileMabelhas finally found a place to call home and her relationship seems to be going from strength to strength. However, the relentless bombing in the Christmas blitz is about to destroy everything she holds dear, and she will need her friends’ courage and generosity now more than ever.
Brought together by their work on Manchester’s railways, the three women find that with the support and encouragement of each other, they can get through even the most challenging of times.
Oh Maisie, you have completely done it again with another absolutely fantastic and wonderful read that I really haven’t been able to put down. I haven’t wanted to either.
I absolutely love the Railway Girls this has been a welcome revisit to them and I have absolutely loved continuing their journey with them.
I have been completely captivated from the very first chapter and extremely annoyed when real life has kept me from reading. I have completely devoured this at every opportunity.
The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and definitely made me want to keep reading. I’ve had moments where I’ve wanted to cry for the characters. I am definitely very invested after two books. These are very realistic characters who could be family.
The relationship between the characters in this book is one that is very special and as you read it, you can’t help but think of your real life friendships.
This is definitely a book I highly recommend. It is so deserving of all the stars. The Railway Girls are now like family, I can’t wait for more from the girls and this amazing author.
Every love story starts with a moment. The erstwhile couple, the star-crossed pair, the jaded cynics, lock eyes. And fall tumbling deep into irreversible, soul-altering love. Some couples take a while before they get to that moment. In Blooms of War, I am pretty sure that my world-weary, too-young-to-be-on-the-frontlines nurse, Vera, and the pure-hearted, stubbornly optimistic, duty-bound doctor Nick, fall in love the minute they meet. It’s fate. It’s inevitable. And yet, Vera and Nick will do their very best to fight it. Because there’s a war raging. Because there is espionage underfoot. Because they are SCARED.
In trying to capture their emotions, to build the tension, and peel back layer after layer of angst, I needed a song. Something to capture the chemistry and connection between the two. Something to put me in the right frame of mind so the words would flow. And the song I found was Maggie Roger’s “Say It.” The lyrics are simple, her voice is sublime:
I cannot fall in love with you
I cannot feel this way so soon, so soon
I had this song on repeat for hours (days) as I captured the push-and-pull of attraction and self-denial, of trying to be practical when your heart beats hard. It is hard to deny hope:
Our foreheads pressed together, our lips a single, silvery breath apart, we look into one another’s eyes, communicating things that have no words, without spilling a single secret—who I really am, where he really was, what he’s done, what he’s willing to do to keep humanity from tearing itself to pieces, how deep my faith runs.
In this silence, tenderness wells and weaves a spell of dark of night and summer breeze, of instinctive trust and yearning. I murmur, “I will not love you.”
He chuckles, his warm breath teases my parted lips. “Promise me you won’t.”
The spell between us does not break. Will not break. You cannot fight intangible forces—air, gravity, whatever it is that holds constellations in their place. We do our best. Pore by pore, inch by inch, we part, turning away from each other and toward the sky.
I point to a row of stars. “Big dipper.”
He gestures to a distant, but bright, orange light. “Arcturis.”
Star by star, we map out the Milky Way. Far safer than mapping out the tumult of our hearts.
Vera Bettsshouldn’tbe falling in love with the enigmatic doctor she suspects of espionage. Reeling from her family’s betrayal,she’sfaked her nursing credentials, invented a new name, and run away to the frontlines of the French battlefield. Four years into the Great War and she knows who she is and whatshe’smeant for—to save the living and sit vigil by the dying. When the cagey-yet-earnestDr.Nicholas Wallace arrives, so do mysterious explosions destroying hospitals. Even as Nick raises her suspicions, he lowers herdefenses. He wants the war to end. Are his acts of sabotage politically motivated or a desperate attempt at peace? In peace, she fell apart.
A year later, Vera is back with her oppressive family, living under her real name, and Nick is on trial for murder. Trapped in grief and guilt, she cannot speak about the past and does not believe in the future. With Nick refusing to defend himself, she ventures to London to understand why he is so willing to embrace the hangman’s noose. Who is he trying to protect? What secrets does he plan to carry to his grave? And why does Nick insist upon hiding hertrue identity? To save the man she loves, Vera must tear open the past and confront the tragic price for peace.
Writer of lush, historical happily-ever-after tales, Suzanne Tierney believes in true love. But she takes delicious pleasure in making her characters fight, flutter, and find their way to each other. Her books have won numerous awards and she has twice been a Golden Heart Finalist® with the Romance Writers of America.
Suzanne grew up in Oregon, adulted in the San Francisco Bay Area, and somehow ended up in Florida, where she is very much a cold-water fish learning to navigate humid, salty seas. She loves chatting with readers.
A huge thank you to Richard Smith for the copy of this gorgeous book.
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Matador
Release date: November 26th 2019
George is a recently widowed seventy-nine-year-old. He nearly made it as a rock star in the 1960s and he’s not happy. Tara is his teenage granddaughter and she’s taken refuge from her bickering parents by living with George. Toby is George’s son-in-law and he wants George in a care home.
George has two secrets. 1) He’s never revealed why his music career stalled. And 2) No-one knows just how much the disappointment of opportunities missed still gnaw at him. He craves one last chance, even at his age. When it presents itself, through the appearance of a long-lost distant relative – whose chequered past should set alarm bells ringing – he can’t resist.
For Tara, living with her grandfather is a way to find her own path and develop her own musical ambitions. She isn’t prepared for the clash between different generations and living in a strange house full of her grandfather’s memories – and vinyl records.
They get off to a shaky start. George takes an instant dislike to the sounds from her bedroom that seem more suited to Guantanamo Bay than anything he would call musical. But as time plays out, they find there are more similarities – neither know how to operate a dishwasher – than differences, and parallels across the generations slowly bring them to recognise their shared strengths. But when Toby inadvertently sets in motion a chain of events, it leaves Tara with the same dilemma her grandfather faced five decades before with the same life-changing choice to make.
My Review:
This book was a gift from the author and I am so thankful for the opportunity to read and review this one. This has been a fun and interesting read which I have found difficult to put down.
Music is intertwined throughout this story of family, love, hopes and dreams. Smith has really managed to bring the characters in this one to life. I’ve found them likeable and realistic throughout.
This is so well written that I have devoured this book in just one sitting and it has been a lovely book to escape with. This has definitely helped me switch off from the harsh reality of the current times.
I absolutely love how the relationships have developed throughout this gorgeous book. It has been an absolute pleasure to review this book. Smith is a new author for me, but this won’t be the only book on my shelf of this author’s.
Another five star rating from me, I have really enjoyed reading this one and highly recommend this to other bookish friends.
About the Author:
Richard Smith is a writer and storyteller for sponsored films and commercials with subjects as varied as bananas in Cameroon, oil from the North Sea, fighting organised crime and caring for older people. Their aim has been to make a positive difference, but, worryingly, two commercials he worked on featured in a British Library exhibition, ‘Propaganda’.
You can also check out my reviews on Twitter and Instagram.
A huge thank you to Richard Smith for the copy of this gorgeous book.
Paperback:304 pages
Publisher:Matador
Release date: November 26th 2019
George is a recently widowed seventy-nine-year-old. He nearly made it as a rock star in the 1960s and he’s not happy. Tara is his teenage granddaughter and she’s taken refuge from her bickering parents by living with George. Toby is George’s son-in-law and he wants George in a care home.
George has two secrets. 1) He’s never revealed why his music career stalled. And 2) No-one knows just how much the disappointment of opportunities missed still gnaw at him. He craves one last chance, even at his age. When it presents itself, through the appearance of a long-lost distant relative – whose chequered past should set alarm bells ringing – he can’t resist.
For Tara, living with her grandfather is a way to find her own path and develop her own musical ambitions. She isn’t prepared for the clash between different generations and living in a strange house full of her grandfather’s memories – and vinyl records.
They get off to a shaky start. George takes an instant dislike to the sounds from her bedroom that seem more suited to Guantanamo Bay than anything he would call musical. But as time plays out, they find there are more similarities – neither know how to operate a dishwasher – than differences, and parallels across the generations slowly bring them to recognise their shared strengths. But when Toby inadvertently sets in motion a chain of events, it leaves Tara with the same dilemma her grandfather faced five decades before with the same life-changing choice to make.
My Review:
This book was a gift from the author and I am so thankfulfortheopportunity to read and review this one. Thishasbeena fun and interesting read which I have found difficult to put down.
Music is intertwined throughout this story of family, love, hopes and dreams. Smith has really managed to bring the charactersin this one to life. I’ve found them likeable and realistic throughout.
This is so well written that I have devoured this book in just one sitting and it has been a lovely book to escape with. This has definitely helped me switch off from the harsh reality of the current times.
I absolutely love how the relationships have developed throughout this gorgeous book. It has been an absolute pleasure to review this book. Smith is a new author for me, but this won’t be the only book on my shelf of this author’s.
Another five star rating from me, I have really enjoyed reading this one and highly recommend this to other bookish friends.
About the Author:
Richard Smith is a writer and storyteller for sponsored films and commercials with subjects as varied as bananas in Cameroon, oil from the North Sea, fighting organised crime and caring for older people. Their aim has been to make a positive difference, but, worryingly, two commercials he worked on featured in a British Library exhibition, ‘Propaganda’.
You can also check out my reviews on Twitter and Instagram.
A huge thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Description:
Claire always wished for a sister. But should you be careful what you wish for?
Claire has spent her whole marriage trying to be the perfect wife and mother – supporting her husband as he goes for promotions and always making sure she’s there to tuck her daughter into bed each night. But little does she know that almost everyone around her has been keeping secrets that could ruin the life she’s worked so hard to create.
Growing up with warring parents and an often absent father, Claire has always wanted to give her daughter Ella the dream childhood she wishes she’d had. So, when she discovers her husband Luke has been having an affair, Claire is left wondering how she can possibly keep her daughter’s world from crumbling.
Then Claire receives a text message from someone called Sophie that simply reads –‘You don’t know me, but I’m your sister’. At first, she’s shocked. And Sophie’s appearance raises questions Claire would like to put to her elderly father before it’s too late. But as she gets to know Sophie – who is so like her in so many ways – she can’t help but be delighted to finally have the sibling she always dreamed of.
As the two women become inseparable, Claire leans on her new sister more and more, ultimately asking her to move into the family home and trusting her with Ella. But when the unthinkable happens and Claire fears for her daughter’s life, she starts to wonder whether her new sister is exactly who she says she is.
One thing Claire knows is that telling the perfect lie seems to run in the family.
Review:
This is a fast paced domestic thriller which has kept me on the edge of my seat. I haven’t wanted to put this one down and have raced to the end in a matter of hours.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout this book. This is my first read by this author but it definitely will not be the last. I have really enjoyed reading this book and it has definitely captivated my attention and kept me hooked.
This is most definitely a page turner, if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers I’d definitely recommend this book.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can also check out my reviews on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
No one survives war unscathed. But even in the darkest days, seeds of hope can grow.
It is 1946 and in the village of Oakbourne the men are home from the war. Their bodies are healing but their psychological wounds run deep. Everyone is scarred – those who fought and those left behind.
Alice Rayne is married to Stephen, heir to crumbling Oakbourne Hall. Once a sweet, gentle man, he has returned a bitter and angry stranger, destroyed by what he has seen and done, tormented by secrets Alice can only guess at.
Lonely and increasingly afraid of the man her husband has become, Alice must try to pick up the pieces of her marriage and save Oakbourne Hall from total collapse. She begins with the walled garden and, as it starts to bear fruit, she finds herself drawn into a new, forbidden love.
Set in the Suffolk countryside as it moves from winter to spring, The Walled Garden is a captivating love story and a timeless, moving exploration of trauma and the miracle of human resilience.
This is a book with one gorgeous cover. I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this one. I can safely say that this is a book that has exceeded my expectations and been a book that has stolen my heart.
This is such a powerful read, there is a focus on hope, trauma and the aftermath of war. This is a book which really pulled me in and kept me craving more.
The author builds this slowly, allowing the reader to get to know the characters that fill the pages of this one.
The author has included darker parts in this novel, men returning from war and being unable to be open and discuss experiences. This is so beautifully written that you can’t help be touched by this book.
The experiences that come through to the reader are just so well written. I have been completely captivated and unwilling to put this one down. I have been completely caught up and invested.
This is a book that has stayed with me long after reading and converted me as a fan of the author. This is a must for the TBR.
It has been five years since writing fiction was banned by the government.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding?
And who can be trusted?
Wow I really don’t know where to begin with this one. Although this is a 2023 book, I couldn’t wait to delve in and now I have months to wait before I can discuss this one.
Fern Dostoy is criminal– a fiction writer. Just imagine a world in which fiction is banned and novels are burnt.
The horror I’ve felt at this aspect, has resulted in me stroking my books and reminding those around me of the consequences of coming near my books. It’s a thought that terrifies me- a world without fiction novels.
However, Swanson takes us on a journey with Fern- writer, award winner, laureate. As a reader, you feel for her and can’t help but want to give her a great big cwtch because of her circumstances.
Once I’d got over the nightmare the author planted (burning of books), I devoured page after page. There are so many scary elements to this one, yet they are presented in a way which is completely imaginable and realistic.
As events in this one have unravelled, I’ve found myself completely speechless and unable to put this down. I’ve needed to know how this was going to play out. Swanson is a genius, this is a book that will completely pull the ground from under you. I have been completely speechless and unable to predict this.
I am in awe of how effortlessly this flows. Swanson is talented and this is a book which absolutely must be a bestseller. I can say nothing negative about this gem because it’s everything I had anticipated and so much more. This truly is a book worthy of all the stars.
Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Lauren also writes romance novels under the name Laurie Ellingham and book club thrillers as L.C. North. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
Lauren’s Books:
The Ugly Truth: 16th March 2023
Melanie Lange has disappeared.
Her father, Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic.
Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, say she has been kidnapped.
The media will say whichever gets them the most views.
But whose side are you on? #SaveMelanie #HelpPeter
The Ugly Truth is a shocking and addictive thriller about celebrity culture, coercive control and the truth behind the headlines.
My Word Against His: 26th May 2023
‘It’s me,’ says the voice on the other end of the line. It’s been thirteen years and I still recognise it. Thirteen years of nothing. Silence. Not even a birthday card. ‘It’s time for you to tell the truth. It’s life or death.’
Three hours later, car tyres screech and the air bags release. For a second, nothing happens. There’s only stunned silence and a ringing in my ears.
I peel open my eyes. What have I done? There’s a groan, and I gasp, terrified, at the sight of the man next to me. This is all his fault.
Fumbling with the door, I half step, half fall into the freezing cold air. I’m shivering all over as my knees land on the tarmac. ‘Help,’ I whisper into the dark, empty street.
Then there’s a flash of blue light. A siren. The police are coming. They will save me, and arrest him. They will see a dangerous man and an innocent victim – a loving mother with a son she cherishes.
They have to – because they can’t know the truth. They can’t discover what happened thirteen years ago and what happened tonight. All those years back, the lies nearly destroyed us. I won’t let that happen today.
It’s my word against his. And there’s no line I won’t cross to protect my family.
One Step Behind
‘A gripping psychological thriller that pulls the reader through the story at a terrific pace, not giving them a moment to draw breath’ Nikki Smith, author of All in Her Head
Jenna is a wife, a mother, a doctor. She’s also the victim of a stalker.
Every time she leaves her house, she sees him. Disturbing gifts are left at her door. Cruel emails are sent to her colleagues. She has no idea who this man is but she feels powerless against him.
Until the day he is brought into her hospital after a serious accident, and Jenna is given the chance to find out once and for all why this man is tormenting her. Now, the power is all hers.
But how many lines is she willing to cross to take back control of her life?
Safe at Home
What if you left your child alone, and something terrible happened?
Anna James is an anxious mother. So when she has to leave eleven-year-old Harrie home alone one evening, she can’t stop worrying about her daughter. But nothing bad ever happens in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin.
Except something goes wrong that night, and Anna returns to find Harrie with bruises she won’t explain. The next morning a local businessman is reported missing and the village is sparking with gossip.
Anna is convinced there’s a connection and that Harrie is in trouble. But how can she protect her daughter if she doesn’t know where the danger is coming from?
All the Wicked Games:
IF YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS IN DANGER, YOU’D TRY TO SAVE HER…WOULDN’T YOU?
‘Dark and addictive, twisty and twisted…phenomenal!’Andrea Mara, author of ALL HER FAULT
Are you ready to play?
Best friends Cleo and Rachel spend their evenings pretending to be people they’re not, inventing elaborate stories to escape the monotony of their real lives. It’s all harmless fun – until they play the game on the wrong person…
It’s your move now.
Five years later, Cleo is still struggling to come to terms with the night that destroyed her friendship with Rachel and almost cost them their lives. And then she receives a text: Rachel is missing. Have you seen her?
There’s only one person to blame.
Wracked with guilt for failing Rachel the last time they were in danger, Cleo races to find her friend. But could the past be repeating itself? Only this time, they’re caught up in a far darker game.
The rules don’t matter when the goal is revenge…
The Perfect Betrayal
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.
When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life.
But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be . . .
Just the Six of Us
When Jenny and Dan meet, sparks fly and they can’t get enough of each other. What they can get enough of? Sneaking around and hiding their relationship from their kids…
Divorced, single, and ready for another shot at love in their forties, what they didn’t count on is how hard second chances can be.
When Jenny gets some unexpected news, suddenly navigating exes and step-children becomes even more important…
For fans of Jules Wake, Kristen Bailey and Helen Whitaker, Just the Six of Us is an uplifting and heart-warming blended family romcom.
Picture Perfect
To her ten thousand Instagram followers, Becca has the perfect life: three beautiful children, a gorgeous house, a successful husband and a thriving interior design business… But in unfiltered reality, Becca’s life is just one giant mess. Her children are completely out of control and her marriage is crumbling.
With the summer holidays looming, Becca is horrified to discover that she must spend nine weeks alone with her unruly children. Nine weeks of complete mayhem!
In despair, Becca reaches out to social media influencer – the Toddler Tamer. Could she be the one to save the summer… and the whole family?
Hilarious, true to life and totally relatable, Picture Perfect is the perfect summer read.
What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser? I’m 100% a plotter. I plan in a lot of detail. I like to think of it as drawing a picture. The writing part is then colouring it in. The colours might change and I might go over the lines in places but the basic picture will stay pretty much the same.
The first thing I’ll do when I get an idea is makes sure it’s going to be commercial enough and fit my brand. It’s a very competitive market and I want every book to do well. So I develop a couple of sentences about the idea in an elevator pitch and test it on my family and some close writing friends. If my 13yo son says “got it” as apposed to grumbling a “huh” then I know it needs work.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I would say very little. I can write in the car while one of the kids is at a club, or at a trampoline park. I write for a few hours most days at a noisy café. The important thing for me is to move around. I get stir crazy if I stay in the same place too long. I also like coffee very much; decaf is totally fine though.
What is your favourite part of writing?
I love every part of the process. I think my favourite part though is the second draft. Every writer comes at their books slightly differently. For me, I write a quick and messy first draft, and then before anyone sees it, I will give it an edit. It’s this stage where I feel like I add the depth to the characters and story. I love that there are words on the page already and it’s my job to make sure they’re doing everything they can to tell the story I want to tell.
How do you find inspiration? I wouldn’t say I go out of my way to find inspiration. Often, the first seed of an idea will come from something around me that takes my interest. It could be a documentary or it could be a situation I find myself in that has me wondering, what if . .?
What books do you enjoy reading? I love thrillers, and I love how this genre has developed over the last ten years. This year there seems to be a sub-genre of humorous thrillers which I find really interesting. I’m obsessed by mixed media novels, like Janice Hallet’s The Appeal, and Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I think we’re going to see more and more books like this. I also love women’s fiction and romance, and some historical novels. I tend to listen to these genres on Audible and read thrillers. I like the balance of the different genres through different mediums.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer? Anytime a book captures me, either because of a great plot, or brilliant narrative and style, I feel inspired to do better and to push my own boundaries that little bit more. Lisa Jewell is a huge inspiration for me in both how she writes and the depth of her thrillers. The Family Upstairs still gives me chills when I think about it.
What books are you currently reading?
I’m currently knee deep in structural edits for my next L.C North book so I’m enjoying reading something out of the usual thriller genre, which at the moment is The Children of The Sun by Beth Lewis which is out in May. It’s about a commune/cult set up in America and it’s all kinds of creepy and interesting.
Current Read
What books do you have on your TBR?
I have so many amazing books to read! Shouting at me from my TBR at the moment is All of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummings, The Last Passenger by Will Dean, The Truth about her by Annie Taylor, and You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace.
My Thoughts on Lauren’s books:
The Ugly Truth
Whose side are you on? #saveMelanie #helpPeter
Wow!! Is there anything this lady cannot write? This is another absolutely spectacular read from an absolute QUEEN. In fact, LC North needs to straighten that crown because this is phenomenal.
I have been so pulled into this one, completely invested in this book and the characters. Writing this review, I have tears streaming down my cheeks- I really have been that invested. Melanie is a character who has sat with me from the beginning and the heartache she must have felt being away from her boys is something that I’ve felt throughout.
There is so much to unravel in this book. North has included so many themes: mental health, life of celebrity, money, fame, motherhood and divorce. North has included the perfect balance and the multi-perspective in this is just completely BRILLIANT. I have so many questions because I’m sure there must have been spreadsheets, post it notes or some form of planning to maintain the excellence which is throughout every page of this.
I love that this has included a perspective from all angles- individuals involved, friends, media and social media. This is a perfect example of how, none of us know about the person behind the tweet. This a key element because we don’t know how they are impacted by what is being said.
I have been really unsure of my thoughts of Peter and Zara throughout this one. Melanie has been a character that I have loved from very early on. The journal entries have broken my heart into tiny pieces because they are filled with such emotion.
This is written completely different to North’s previous books. This hasn’t stopped me devouring page after page. North is definitely on my list of favourite QUEENS OF FICTION. I can safely say that this book is another absolute gem. It’s definitely going to be on the favourites list ( yes, I say this every book but they are all beyond amazing).
The Ugly Truth is filled with raw emotion, a variety of characters and will complete consume you. I guarantee that this is one you won’t stop thinking about. I definitely haven’t since finishing the very last page.
This is another masterpiece and I have adored everything about it. I am already eagerly anticipating what may be coming next. I have no doubt that it will be amazing. This is a must for the TBR. It is also a book everyone should read.
This is a book worthy of all the stars and praise. A fabulous read by a fabulous lady.
All the Wicked Games
Woweeee!! What have I just read? Lauren North is an autobuy author for me now. I don’t need to know anything more than release date and I’m itching to read. I am beyond grateful for the personally signed copy of this one from Lauren herself.
I knew from the cover and synopsis that this was going to be a gem. I definitely underestimated how much I would love this book. I have been captive from the first page until the very last word. I have devoured this in just one sitting and I have no regrets. I only wish I could experience reading this for the first time all over again.
This is a book that introduces us to Cleo, a nervous and anxious character that I’ve felt completely able to relate to. Cleo returns to London after receiving a text to say her best friend from years ago is missing. This is where we start to completely unravel the games that the girls have played and the plot completely ramps up.
Our queen of the dark side, throws in so many twists and turns, it becomes impossible to predict this one. The plot is perfectly paced and North is able to fully transport the reader to the settings in the book. I have definitely felt my pulse race at parts of this book. I have been a little lost for words at the ending.
It’s no secret that Lauren North is one of my queens of the genre. I never have any hesitation in recommending a Lauren North book. I have read all of them and this is definitely on my favourites list.
There is literally nothing negative I can say about this book. North has pulled me in, kept me hostage and taken me through a whirlwind of events that I would happily experience all over again. This is a complete gem and an all round must read.
I would absolutely recommend this book. It has been gripping and I haven’t wanted to put it down. North has thrown me off on numerous occasions when I thought I was close to predicting what was going to happen.
Most definitely a five star read for me. Only this is a book I feel is deserving of more than five stars.
Safe at Home
I absolutelyadore Lauren North books, this is a truly wonderful author and this is quite possibly my new favourite of her books.
This is a read that has completely pulled me in and been one that has been impossible to put down. I have been intrigued from the cover of this book and it has definitely made me want to read more.
I have loved the character of Anna, a mother of three girls with a husband that works away. As readers, we have experienced the stresses and emotional rollercoaster that she has been on. This is a credit to North- she has literally put us in the situation where we can experience these emotions and stresses.
This has been a completely unpredictable read, I have been completely hooked and wanting more throughout this one. I have been unsuccessful at predicting where this one was going to go.
I have read all of this author’s books, this is quite possibly my favourite. I have felt the emotions, stresses and been completely caught up in the plot- unable and unwilling to put this down.
There is nothing negative I can say about this gem. Lauren North is a fantastic author and this is a read filled with fantastic characters, unpredictability, tension and suspense.
This is definitely a five star read and one I absolutely recommend.
One Step Behind
Wow oh wow! This was one of those books I saw on twitter and thought “ooh I fancy that one” and I have completely devoured it in just one sitting.
This is a book which has gripped me and been completely unputdownable from the very beginning.
There is nothing negative I can say about this book, I have found myself completely pulled into the events of the book and desperate to know where North was taking the plot of this one.
I do love a true crime documentary/ film, this has made me think of them and I could imagine this taking place. This is a book which I could almost imagine seeing the events on a documentary and being in complete shock.
I have read one of this author’s previous books, however it hasn’t left the impression on me this one has so I definitely think I’ll be re-reading not only that one but any other reads by this author as well. North has completely pulled me into this one and it has been an easy but gripping read. I really have had a clear image of each development and event described within the pages.
This book has evoked many feelings whilst reading. I have been completely gripped and on the edge of my seat, desperate to know what was going to happen. I have felt tense at the unknown and I have been able to empathise with the characters involved.
I absolutely adore the cover of this book, it’s sophisticated and doesn’t give much away at all. The length of this is absolutely perfect, everything included within the pages are completely relevant to the plot and we get the view points from different perspectives- which is always interesting.
This is a book unlike any other I have read previously. The plot is definitely unique and I have said before that females create the perfect psychological books. There have been moments that pull on your heart, for me Beth being excluded by classmates or Jenna finding out about Stuart. There is no way I predicted the way this went (no spoilers here) and I absolutely adore that in a book.
This is an utterly realistic book, from all the crime documentaries that have been on television this is one which could easily be real. I love that North hasn’t been afraid to tackle a plot which could quite easily be viewed by individuals on shows such as “Britain’s Darkest Taboos” or “Crimes That Shocked the Nation”. She has done this in a way that you can almost imagine the commentary.
I would absolutely recommend this book. It has been gripping and I haven’t wanted to put it down. North has thrown me off on numerous occasions when I thought I was close to predicting what was going to happen.
Most definitely a five star read for me. Only this is a book I feel is deserving of more than five stars.
I honestly don’t understand how someone so lovely can write such dark books. This one has completely enthralled me. I have been hooked very quickly, held hostage right up to the last page and I have no regrets. This is a gem and will take you on a complete rollercoaster.
I have had moments where I’ve felt the tension, frantically turning the pages desperate to know where this was going. And OH MY GOODNESS- I didn’t see what was coming, coming!! I feel like I have been spun in a whirlwind and I am a little lost for words. This gem has been EVERYTHING I had been hoping for.
As always, this is brilliantly written. North has a knack for pulling a reader in and making you feel as though you know the characters and settings.
The Perfect Betrayal has the characters you question, the characters you want good things for. It is completely unpredictable and just a little bit genius!
I have read all of Lauren’s books which have been published and each and every book is a masterpiece in itself. I LOVE them all.
This is a MUST read and one that I definitely advise getting on the TBR! This is a fantastic read!
What more could a girl want? This is a book by one of my favourite authors and I’ve enjoyed devouring each and every page.
This is one of those books which is just guaranteed to lift your mood. This is an author I don’t need to even read the synopsis and I just know I’ll love this one.
This is funny, entertaining and completely unputdownable. I have enjoyed getting to know the characters as I’ve read this one.
This is one I could easily imagine on the big screen, and I definitely would be wanting to watch this one.
I loved the strong friendship in this book. It’s made for a great read and it’s been fantastic to see it portrayed.
This is just an absolute gem, I have nothing negative I can say about this one. It’s a great read and one I highly recommend.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
You can find out more about Lauren and keep up to date on all bookish news here.
This world is anything but ordinary, and it’s about to change forever…
It’s our world, but decades into the future…
An ordinary world, where cars drive themselves, drones glide across the sky, and robots work in burger shops. There are two superpowers and a digital Cold War, but all conflicts are safely oceans away. People get up, work, and have dinner. Everything is as it should be…
Except for seventeen-year-old John, a tech prodigy from a damaged family, who hides a deeply personal secret. But everything starts to change for him when he enters a tiny café on a cold Tokyo night. A café run by a disgraced sumo wrestler, where a peculiar dog with a spherical head lives, alongside its owner, enigmatic waitress Neotnia…
But Neotnia hides a secret of her own – a secret that will turn John’s unhappy life upside down. A secret that will take them from the neon streets of Tokyo to Hiroshima’s tragic past to the snowy mountains of Nagano.
A secret that reveals that this world is anything ordinary – and it’s about to change forever…
I do love an Orenda book and this one has been no different. In fact, this has convinced me that I need to bump Epihany Jones up the TBR.
There is so much tension and suspense in this one, I have loved the multi genre plot that has unfolded in this one’s the characters are memorable and a group you won’t forget in a hurry. This is brilliant from beginning to end.
This is a book that will make your heart pound on occasions and raise questions on others. You can’t help but consider these and reflect as you watch this one. I have adored every moment reading this.
Grothaus has literally transported me with the beautiful writing and descriptions. I have devoured page after page completely loving this book more and more.
From beginning to end this book is a gem. I have loved everything about this book. This is absolutely one I’ll be recommending.
Little Miss Book Lover 87 