Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Meet Louisa (Lou) Clark, she knows lots of things.  She knows precisely how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home.  She loves working in The Buttered Bun tea shop until she looses her job and she then reluctantly takes a post as a carer to a young man, Will Traynor, who was involved in a serious accident involving a motorcycle 2 years previous which has left him paralysed from the chest down or in a Quadriplegic state.  She also knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

Will Traynor had a high flying well paid career, an active lifestyle, the world was his oyster until that faithful day he was involved in an accident that would change his life forever. It has taken away his desire to live as he needs round the clock care and feels that he's a burden on everyone; nurses, his parents and sister.  He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

However, when Will's Mum Camilla hires Lou to be carer to Will where amongst her daily duties she has to carry out for him she has to also try and convince him that his life is worth living.  Lou knows she's against the clock as she tries to hatch a plan to try and persuade Will of this.  Will she manage to convince Will before it's too late??

Wow, what a beautiful, emotional and thought provoking love story, I LOVED it. This story had it all from family, love with a little hint of humor sprinkled in along the way to more sensitive and hard-hitting issues which were dealt with perfectly and researched and written in a very sensitive and compassionate manner.  I found I had tears streaming down my face at the end along with shedding a few along the way, so grab this book, curl up on the couch with a few tissues and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too.  I'm really looking forward to reading more books from Jojo Moyes especially the sequel to this one, After You and I would highly recommend her if you haven't read any of her books already.

Me Before You is available on Kindle and in all good bookstores.

A Love Like This by Maria Duffy

Can you get a second chance at love at first sight?


Meet Donna and William, they were born on the same day, in the same Dublin maternity hospital but that's where their similarities end.

Will has grown up in an affluent area and struggles to balance what he wants with what will keep his overbearing mother happy and content.  Across the city,  Donna lives with her older sister, Tina who has raised her since she was a child and she often wonders what life would be like without her problematic mother around.

Donna and Will almost meet many times over the years but something has kept them from that chance meeting until a major tragedy strikes each one of them.  Will decides that he wants to travel the world with the hope of finding happiness as he tries to come to terms with a life-shattering event.  Donna is now alone in the world and decides that there's nothing left for her and makes plans to leave Dublin to fulfill her lifelong dream.  They finally meet more than 10,000 miles away from home so perhaps fate has plans for them still or will it be a case of what could've been......

Maria Duffy has done it once again, I loved this book.  I had it read in a few days and couldn't put it down, it was such a sweet, heart-warming and uplifting book, the story flows well throughout the book.  This story had it all from love, family, tragedy, protectiveness to more sensitive and hard-hitting issues and with a little bit of humor thrown into the mix, this story was handled and written perfectly - I found I had a little tear in my eye at the end along with shedding a few along the way, so grab this book, curl up on the couch and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too.

This is Maria Duffy's 5th novel, she has also written Any Dream Will Do, The Terrace, The Letter and One Wish and are all available on Kindle & in all good bookstores.

A Love Like This is available on Kindle & in all good bookstores.

Follow Me by Angela Clarke ~ COVER REVEAL

Hi Everyone,

I was really excited to receive an email from Helena Sheffield last week asking me amongst other book bloggers to do a cover reveal for this upcoming book so I'd like to say a huge thanks to Helena from Avon Books/Harper Collins Publishers for been given this huge opportunity to host the cover reveal for Follow Me by Angela Clarke which is her debut novel and is due to be released on Kindle on December 3rd and on December 31st in paperback and I really can't wait to read it and you can pre-order it on Kindle.

So without further ado, here it is......................

LIKE. SHARE. FOLLOW . . . DIE

The ‘Hashtag Murderer’ posts chilling cryptic clues online, pointing to their next target. Taunting the police. Enthralling the press. Capturing the public’s imagination.

But this is no virtual threat.

As the number of his followers rises, so does the body count.

Eight years ago two young girls did something unforgivable. Now ambitious police officer Nasreen and investigative journalist Freddie are thrown together again in a desperate struggle to catch this cunning, fame-crazed killer. But can they stay one step ahead of him? And can they escape their own past?

Time's running out. Everyone is following the #Murderer. But what if he is following you?

ONLINE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM …


Follow me is available on Kindle from the 3rd of December & in paperback from the 31st of December.

Girl Alone by Cathy Glass

Thanks to LoveReading & Harper Element, I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.......

When Joss was only 9 years old, she came home from school to discover her father's suicide.  Joss's Mum has also remarried and she is quite bitter about this and resents her stepfather as he's trying to be her father.

Now Joss is now a thirteen year old very troubled, angry and out of control teenager when she arrives to her third foster carer, Cathy Glass, in as many months.  Cathy is highly experienced in this field and been fostering for over 25 years and has cared for more than 150 children and is asked to look after Joss but she knows this is going to be quite challenging.  Joss's attitude towards Cathy and her and her 3 children is horrible.  She won't let anyone get close to her, she believes that she's invincible and can take care of herself, places herself in great danger on numerous occasions.  She drinks alcohol, smokes cannabis, steals, goes missing and gets into trouble with the police and at school but time is running out for Joss, as she will be moved to a secure unit.  One night when you think thing can't any worse for Joss, they do.  Joss arrives home very late sobbing and with bruises on her face....

I really loved this book, it's based on true events also which I really liked.  I had it read in about a day, I couldn't put it down, I really enjoyed Joss's story from when she arrived with Cathy and her journey along until the last page.  I really admire anyone who fosters or adopts children as they're giving someone a great chance at a life they could never imagine, even though they may have some hard and challenging times along the way.  I really didn't like Joss at the start but I had so many emotions for her reading this book, from annoyance, anger, sadness, empathy, sorrow to happiness.

It was such a sad, thought provoking, heart-warming and uplifting story.  This story had it all from love, family to more sensitive and hard-hitting issues which were dealt with perfectly and in a sensitive manner.  I found I had a little tear in my eye at the end along with shedding a few along the way, so grab this book, curl up on the couch and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too.  I'm really looking forward to reading more books from Cathy Glass and would highly recommend her if you haven't read any of her books already.

Girl Alone is available on Kindle and in all good bookstores.

The Dress by Kate Kerrigan

Thanks to Lovereading.co.uk and Head of Zeus, I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.....

Meet Lily Fitzpatrick, a hugely successful vintage blogger who has over a quarter of a million blog and Twitter followers and also uploads what outfit she's wearing onto her Instagram on a daily basis, she has really made a name for herself in the world of fashion.  She also has a collection of fashion pieces that are to die for.  But this passion for the beautiful clothes of the past is about to have unforeseen consequences, when Lily stumbles upon a Vogue story of a 1950's New York beauty, with a photograph of 'The Dress' which is probably the most beautiful dress ever created, and worn by a stunningly magnificent woman who also shares Lily's surname.  Lily is determined to find out as much as she can about both the dress and the amazing woman that is wearing it in the photo.

The Dress is a dual-time narrative, which is a beautifully written present-day story being told from Lily's point of view. It is mainly set in London in the present day and 1950's New York.  I had it read in a few days, I couldn't put it down, I loved the fashion from the 1940's onwards in America so I felt transported there whilst reading & could visualise the lovely outfits that would've been worn back then too.  It was such a heart-warming, uplifting story.  This story had it all from love, fashion to more sensitive and a hard-hitting issue where I found I had a little tear in my eye at the end along with shedding a few along the way, so grab this book, curl up on the couch and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too.

The Dress is available on Kindle and in all good bookstores.

The Girl Who Broke The Rules by Marnie Riches

Today, it's my turn on The Girl Who Broke The Rules Blog Tour and I'm delighted that I was asked to participate with so many great Book Bloggers so thanks to Charlotte Woods, Avon, Maze Publishing and Marnie Riches, I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review....

Detective Van Den Bergen and Georgina (George) McKenzie are back with their most action-packed and disturbing story yet.  It is set 4 years after the ending of the first novel, The Girl Who Wouldn't Die.  When the bodies of two prostitutes are found horribly mutilated in Amsterdam, Chief Inspector van den Bergen must find a brutal murderer before the red-light-district erupts into panic and before anymore bodies are discovered. Georgina (George) McKenzie is studying for her PHD in college and is in the middle of conducting research into pornography among the UK’s most violent sex-offenders but when she receives a call from Van Den Bergen requesting her criminology expertise, she is only too happy to come on board the investigation but as the death toll rises George and Van Den Bergen race through the worlds of Soho sleazy strip-clubs and trans-national human trafficking.  George must even walk the halls of Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital, seeking advice from the brilliant serial killer, Dr. Silas Holm as the case gets even more complicated......

This is the second book by Marnie Riches and what a second book it was, it was absolutely brilliant, it had me gripped from the first few pages right through to the end, there were some great twists and turns too.  I would even go as far as to say that this second book was even better than the first one. This novel was like a rollercoaster ride and takes us through locations such as London, Amsterdam and South Africa.  I even had to slow down reading it as I didn't want it to end. The story does cover alot of subjects and situations which we're all too familiar with on a daily basis, from prostitution, human trafficking, violence to paedophilia, whether it's on the news or in the papers, this story was near enough to real life.  It is a pretty gritty book and there were parts I did squirm through so it's definitely not for the fainthearted. I didn't just like it, I LOVED it and it definitely didn't disappoint. I thought that I'd worked out who the killer was but was completely wrong and OMG THAT ending, I still can't believe that it was left like that and I am REALLY looking forward to Marnie's next book in the series, which will be the third, The Girl Who Walked in the Shadows already which is released in October and it can't come quick enough so thank god it won't be too long until another Detective Van Den Bergen and Georgina McKenzie novel is upon us.

Marnie Riches is definitely an author to watch.  I'd HIGHLY recommend this if you're a fan of Jo Nesbo or Steig Larsson and it's only 99p on Kindle at the moment so grab it while you can, you won't be disappointed so don't say I never told you so!!!

The Girl Who Broke The Rules and The Girl Who Wouldn't Die are both available on Kindle and The Girl Who Wouldn't Die is currently free at the time of the publication of this review.

Untouchable by Ava Marsh Q+A's & Review

Today, it's my turn on the final day of The Untouchable Blog Tour and I'm delighted that I was asked to participate with some great Book Bloggers.  I'd like to say thank you so much to Ava for taking the time to answer the questions that I put to her.  You can read my review of Untouchable at the end of these Q+A's.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I suppose I always wanted to be a writer, but it took me years to screw up the courage to properly try. I was terrified of failing at the thing I most wanted to do, so it was easier to channel my creative energy into things like journalism, where the stakes weren’t as high.

Eventually, however, the nagging sense that I was letting time slip away brought me to the point where I made a proper commitment to fiction. Once I got my head around the fact that writing was something you could learn, and that initial rejection was normal, I never looked back. I regret those wasted years though. I wish I’d had more confidence in myself.

What books have most influenced your life?

I’ll pick three. ‘The Master and Margarita’ by Mixhail Bulgakov is my favourite novel, essentially because it works on so many levels: satire, political commentary, social history, a love story, even a ‘historical’ insight into the encounter between Jesus and Pontius Pilate. It opened my eyes to how much you could do with a novel – though of course it helps to be a Russian genius.

‘The White Hotel’ by D M Thomas has had the most impact on me of any book ever written. I cannot describe the emotional punch of this now somewhat neglected novel. I was devastated by it. I’m scared to ever go back and reread– I am not sure I could cope with going through that particular journey again.

‘American Psycho’ by Brett Easton Ellis. Love him or hate him, Easton Ellis is a prodigy. I adored this book, the way it played with reality, with satire, with character and notions of identity. I love books that toy with the reader. And it’s hugely funny, despite all the gory bits.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Hmmm… I think I’d have to say all those writers who are generous enough to share their journey, their struggles to learn the craft, to overcome rejection. They helped me get over the idea that writers are born rather than made, and that if you’re any good, you’ll be a literary genius from the first moment you set pen to paper. It’s not like that. You become good by increments, a never-ending process of improvement.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?

I think the greatest challenge with Untouchable was structural. I like character-driven books which start slowly and build up, but so often in crime writing there’s a pressure to have a death right up in the early chapters. I wanted a balance where the reader gets to know Grace a little before the murder kicks off, whilst keeping the novel within the remit of a crime thriller.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?  

Rewriting. Like most authors, I dread the editing process. There’s nothing worse than having to excise a chapter, a character, or prose you’ve spent hours crafting. It’s almost physically painful, but necessary; a good editor helps you see what needs to change or delete, for the greater good of the story as a whole.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Fab question! I am neck-deep in changing my latest book, Exposure, currently in the thick of structural edits – I’m at the stage where I feel lost in the woods with only my edit notes to guide me to safety.

In terms of Untouchable, I don’t think so. I had to get rid of a character I was extremely fond of – Lennox, Grace’s gay friend and personal trainer – but he’s been partially reincarnated as Nelson in Exposure, so I am grieving a little less now.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? 

I loved SJI Holliday’s debut, Black Wood and Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood. I’m about to read In Bitter Chill by Sarah Ward, which I’ve been hearing so many good things about, and Tenacity by J S Law. I also enjoyed I Let You Go, by Clare Mackintosh, which is fast becoming a runaway bestseller.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Exposure is set in the world of porn, and is essentially the story of Leanne Jenkins - aka Kitty Sweet - now incarcerated in prison on a life sentence for double murder. It’s a very different story to Untouchable, and like many second novels, proving a pig to get right. Pray for me. I need all the help I can get.

Thanks to Sophie Christopher and Transworld, I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review..................

Attraction can be fatal..........

Grace is an escort in London, she is an expensive and high class one at that but is known as Stella by her clients and colleagues.  She also works as a telephonist in a rape crisis centre.  Stella has a "party piece" that makes her rather popular but you get the sense from the start that this life is her way of hiding from her past but what has happened to make her choose this life? When a fellow escort Amanda is found murdered and Grace realises that a party they attended together could be the key to her murder. Is it possible that she can work out why Amanda was killed without putting herself in more danger or before it's too late!??

This is the first book by Ava Marsh and what a debut it was, I didn't just like it, I LOVED it and it definitely didn't disappoint. This novel is like a rollercoaster ride and I was hooked from the beginning. I would state that due to mature content, I would recommend this for readers aged 18+. It is pretty gritty book in parts and there are alot of graphic scenes of prostitution and sex and it might not be to everyone's cup of tea but I thought that it was tastefully written. There were a few parts I did squirm through so it's definitely not for the fainthearted. I am really looking forward to reading more from Ava Marsh as she's definitely an author to watch and I would highly recommend this so don't say I never told you.

Untouchable is available on Kindle and in all good bookstores and is currently £1.99 at the time of publication of this review.