The Postcard by Zoe Folbigg

The Postcard by Zoe Folbigg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A year after the kiss that brought them together in a snowy train-station doorway, Maya and James are embarking on another journey – this time around the world.

The trip starts promisingly, with an opulent and romantic Indian wedding. But as their travels continue, Maya fears that 'love at first sight' might not survive trains, planes and tuk tuks, especially when she realises that what she really wants is a baby, and James doesn't feel the same. 

Can Maya and James navigate their different hopes and dreams to stay together? Or is love at first sight just a myth after all...

Romantic chic lit based on a true story and the second book in this series. I’d not read the first book but it didn’t affect the enjoyment of this second one.

Having taken the plunge and left their jobs for a year, this couple embark on an adventure around the world in the hopes that it will bring them closer together. With Maya’s hopes of romantic sunsets, tropical islands and maybe a proposal thrown in for good measure both her and James find the reality of backpacking can be stressful and tests their relationship to the limit.

Lovely atmospheric descriptions of countries add to the enjoyment as this novel ticks along. Not a pacy read and a bit slow to start with but it’s not a thriller so that’s fine. Nicely written with good central characters and plausible secondary ones. Not quite up there with the Sophie Kinsella’s and for me more humour would have given this the lift I felt it needed, however it was a decent holiday read and worth the time invested. A good 3 stars.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

What happens now? - Sophia Money - Coutts

What Happens Now? by Sophia Money-Coutts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’ – that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?

Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.

Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own – it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…  

This is a real fun, entertaining read, one which was a bit of fresh air for me as I haven't read a book like this for a while. At the moment I have limited time to sit down and read a book for hours, so I need a book that will hold my attention and make me want to go back to read more of it. This book certainly did that.

Lil is going through a tough time, she has just come out of a relationship with a guy, who she thought was the one, they have been together for 8 years and she was ready for her relationship to go to the next level. However she has not got her happy ever after and is forced into the dating scene. Using an app she agrees to meet up with Max, things are good on the date and that night they get even better. In the morning when Lil wakes she finds Max has gone and although she thinks its a bit rubbish him running out on her like that begins to move on, that is until she finds herself pregnant.

I really enjoyed this book, it whizzed by and I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Lil and Max. I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun, light hearted read. Personally I can't wait to read more by Sophia.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Retreat - Sherri Smith blog tour

The Retreat: A Novel of Suspense by Sherri Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Katie Manning was a beloved child star until her mid-teens when her manager attacked and permanently scarred her face, effectively ending her career and sending her on a path of all-too-familiar post-Hollywood self-destruction.

Now twenty-seven, Katie wants a better answer to those clickbait "Where Are They Now?" articles that float around online. An answer she hopes to find when her brother's too-good-to-be-true fiancée invites her to a wellness retreat upstate. Together with Katie's two best friends - one struggling with crippling debt and family obligations, one running away from a failed job and relationship - Katie will try to find the inner peace promised at the tranquil retreat. But finding oneself just might drudge up more memories than Katie is prepared to deal with.

Each woman has come to the retreat for different reasons. Each has her secrets to hide. And at the end of this weekend, only one will be left standing.

Another book centered around a wellness retreat which seem to be a popular choice for writers at the moment. A psychological thriller that brings together 4 women Katie, Carmen, Ellie and Ariel who attend a weekend getaway each hoping to gain something uplifting from the experience.

Naturally things don’t go particularly well and at the end of the novel only one of the group come out alive. Well paced with characters although not entirely likeable do make this work.

Not as good at Nine Perfect strangers by Liane Morriarty but worth 4 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.



Excerpt: 



Excerpt 4. Carmen

She’d started donating her eggs in her second term at NYU when she realized that her financial-aid package, even with a scholarship, fell short of covering all of her tuition.

She had tried working as a bartender, but the late nights caused her grades to slip, and her partial scholarship was threatened. She was in danger of not being able to finish out the year. She would have had to drop out, left with nothing but crippling debt to show for it (which eventually happened anyway).

Enter Darla Gibbins from ReproGen. She’d solicited Carmen in the student commons, stepping out in front of her as if she were selling hand lotion in a mall. Darla looked like either a madam or a television evangelist. Chubby and virtually chinless, her fake thick lashes wagged from her eyelids like butterflies stuck in glittery grease. “What’s a little discomfort for a couple of weeks if it puts up to $10,000 in your pocket? Easy money.”

Ten thousand turned out to be seven thousand. But the egg donation was easy, and she could study in the waiting room. She was hooked.

Now Carmen was on her fourth donation because clearly she came from especially fecund stock, and the money was just cover- ing the little extras like clothes and replacing the busted picture window because they couldn’t go another winter with cardboard as their only protection. Her thirteen-year-old brother, the shithead, had gone on a Banksy-inspired vandalism spree and now Carmen was stuck paying off his fines to keep him out of juvie. Then to top it off, the hot water tank just went.

She told herself it was her last donation, but even she didn’t be- lieve it. She felt hooked. It wasn’t the easiest way to make money, but out of all the ways to make money, it wasn’t the worst either.

Carmen felt she was nine years old and back in the free swim- ming class offered to low-income families. The instructor had called the kids who’d passed to stand on the side and left the failures in the pool, half treading water, half drowning, looking up at them, chlorinated water burning up their noses and eyes. Carmen did everything right to escape that pool, but there she was anyway. Pov- erty was like a serial killer at the end of a horror movie; just when she thought she’d gotten away, it popped up stronger, yielding an electric bill like a machete.



She still skimmed the release of liability waiver and signed it anyway. She planned on backing out at the last minute to avoid Katie’s inevitable wheedling that would last the entire weekend. Carmen’s contract specifically stated she not partake in any drugs or alcohol, yet she couldn’t deny her interest was piqued. She’d love to drink some magical tea, morph into her spirit animal or whatever, and gallop around in some rainbow-drenched, unicorn-laden alter- nate universe for an hour or eight. Her life was hard. It’d be nice to sink into oblivion for a while. It was what she’d always liked about Katie; she brought out Carmen’s risk-taking side. She slayed her type A. Got her to loosen up, drink too much, have fun, take off her glasses, let her hair fall loose like the schoolmarm in some old- school rock video who suddenly gave in to all her seething impulses. Katie was her bad influence. Someone she could blame for doing what she really wanted to do.

The Guilty Party by Mel McGrath

The Guilty Party by Mel McGrath
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

On a night out, four friends witness a stranger in trouble. They decide to do nothing to help.

Later, a body washes up on the banks of the Thames – and the group realises that ignoring the woman has left blood on their hands.

But why did each of them refuse to step in? Why did none of them want to be noticed that night? Who is really responsible?

This promised to be a great read but sadly I was disappointed in this novel by Mel McGrath

Four friends witness a rape in an alleyway and do nothing to help. A body is washed up in the Thames which turns out to be the attacked woman. All four friends turn a blind eye not wanting to get involved although they are in some way connected to the woman.

I thought this would be a really good read but it just didn’t have any substance for me. The characters were shallow and self obsessed, there was no pace and it all seemed to drag on and on. By halfway through I was just so fed up with it that I skim read to the end. It perked up a bit but really overly long and lack lustre.

I really can only give this a 2 star rating- with so many books out there time invested has to be worth it - sorry this wasn’t 😟

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

A feast of Serendib: Recipes from Sri Lanka by Mary Anne Mohanraj

Dark roasted curry powder, a fine attention to the balance of salty-sour-sweet, wholesome red rice and toasted curry leaves, plenty of coconut milk and chili heat. These are the flavors of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka was a cross roads in the sea routes of the East. Three waves of colonization—Portuguese, Dutch and British—and the Chinese laborers who came with them, left their culinary imprint on Sri Lankan food. Sri Lankan cooking with its many vegetarian dishes gives testimony to the presence of a multi-ethnic and multi -religious population.

Everyday classics like beef smoore and Jaffna crab curry are joined by luxurious feastdishes, such as nargisi kofta and green mango curry, once served to King Kasyapa in his 5th century sky palace of Sigiriya.

Vegetable dishes include cashew curry, jackfruit curry, asparagus poriyal, tempered lentils, broccoli varai and lime-masala mushrooms. There are appetizers of chili-mango cashews, prawn lentil patties, fried mutton rolls, and ribbon tea sandwiches. Deviled chili eggs bring the heat, yet ginger-garlic chicken is mild enough for a small child. Desserts include Sri Lankan favorites:  love cake, mango fluff, milk toffee and vattalappam, a richly-spiced coconut custard.

When this turned up for me to review, I was so excited! I love cooking and Indian food, so I was keen to try Sri Lankan food. 

Unfortunately my first impressions of this book weren't great. I don't know if it was because I was sent an advanced copy to review but all the recipes inside the book are in black and white. Now this wouldn't normally matter, but when you have a cook book, this is an important part of the book. The images there are to entice you to read it and want to cook that particular meal. 

Another thing I didn't like about the book, (again it could be due to me having an advanced copy) was that there are many different fonts in the book and there are many text boxes in it. 

There are so many recipes in this book and right at the beginning of the of the book, these are broken down into sections such as starters, meats/fish, vegetables, sides and even drinks. You won't be pushed to find a recipe you want to try! 

I also like the background information we are given at the beginning of the book, a bit about the author but also about Sri Lankan cooking. There is also information on a lot of the spices used in the recipes, which explains what they are and when they are used. 

The recipes are laid out well to make them easy to follow and have all the ingredients listed that you will need. 

Overall it is a nice cookery book, it would have been so much better had it of been in colour and the fonts/layouts inside corrected. As I said previously though this could just be because I was given an advanced copy. I do hope it is! 

I would like to thank the publisher/author for sending this in exchange for an honest review. 

The Tapestry Bag by Isabella Muir Audio Review

The Tapestry Bag: A gripping mystery, full of twists and turns: Volume 1 by Isabella Muir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A young woman, Zara, goes missing, one year to the day that her boyfriend, Joel, was killed in a hit and run. Is Zara in danger? Is she still alive? What really happened to Joel and who is to blame?

In the quiet seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, the police appear to be doing little to find Zara. Her friend Janie decides to make it her mission to track her down. It’s the ‘swinging sixties’ and Janie fears that Zara may be mixed up with drugs, alcohol, or worse. As Janie explores the strange circumstances of Zara’s disappearance, she starts to question the truth about Joel’s death.

Janie runs the mobile library and has a passion for crime fiction, especially Agatha Christie. Can Poirot help Janie solve the mystery of Zara’s disappearance?

As she looks for clues she comes across some unsavoury characters who each have a reason for wanting Joel dead. Can Janie untangle the web of lies and find out the truth?

When I listened to this on audible I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I don't particularly like books set in the past, however I was pleasantly surprised with this.

I thought the story progressed quickly and I really got into it. It was bought to life by the narrator, I was a little unsure about her at first but after listening for a while I thought she was the perfect choice.

This is a story about a mystery, Zara goes missing and her friend is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to her, even when it seems like everyone else has given up on her. This has a very Agatha Christie vibe to it, one that will keep you wanting to listen to the end.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries/thrillers. I listened to this really quickly and it helped housework and other boring things go by a lot quicker!

I would like to thank audible for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

My Sister’s Lies by S.D. Robertson with extract

My Sister’s Lies by S.D. Robertson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For a decade, Hannah’s life has been pretty close to perfect – she has a great job, she’s married to Mark, and her child-free existence means she’s free as a bird. The only sadness in her life is a fall-out with her sister Diane, who hasn’t spoken to her in over ten years. But now Diane is on her doorstep – and this time, she’s got her teenage daughter Mia in tow.

When Diane asks if Mia can stay with Hannah and Mark for a few days, Hannah is glad of the chance to get to know her niece. But as the days turn into weeks and Diane doesn’t return, Hannah begins to worry. Why hasn’t her sister been in touch?

Diane is carrying a devastating secret that will destroy Hannah’s carefully constructed life. But how much is she willing to reveal – and when will she pick her moment?

No fireworks with this one, it was a reasonable read but lacked suspense which made it rather slower than I would have liked.

The ending was quite predictable in fact I had guessed early on what had happened and tied in pretty quickly who had committed suicide.

No a fan of the transcripts but they did give additional background so I suppose they were relevant although there was so much explanation on feelings in almost every page that the reader would have got the point without the transcripts anyway. I confess I skim read these anyway as they were not revealing anything new.

Didn't really excite me; an adequate read but really rather ordinary so can only give this one a 3 star rating.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker

Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME THAT YOU MADE A DATE TO VISIT TALL OAKS?

Tall Oaks is an idyllic small town, until the disappearance of a young child throws the tight-knit community into crisis.

Jess Monroe, the boy's distraught mother, is simultaneously leading the search and battling her own grief and self-destructive behaviour. Her neighbours watch on, their sympathy masking a string of dark secrets.

This is a small town where nothing is as it seems, and everyone has something to hide. And as the investigation draws towards a climax, prepare for a devastating final twist . . .


3 year old harry goes missing presumably taken from his bed one night. His distraught mother Jess relentlessly keeps up the pressure to find him with the help of Jim the local police chief as they work to solve the mystery. Could it be other residents know more than they’re saying? Through snapshots of residents lives we are given plenty of red herrings along the way.

I absolutely loved the character of Manny and his sidekick Al - pure genius - who provided the light relief in this intense novel. Surely Manny deserves his own story - had me laughing aloud with tears rolling down my face as I could picture him in front of me the descriptions were so good. The ill fitting fedora had me falling about. Despite copious amounts of swearing this character was for me the best in the book.

Good pacy read with a totally unpredictable ending, I genuinely didn’t see it coming! Easily a 5 🌟 star read for me.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Tangerine by Christine Mangan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the horrific accident at Bennington, the two friends - once inseparable roommates - haven't spoken in over a year. But Lucy is standing there, trying to make things right.

Perhaps Alice should be happy. She has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy, always fearless and independent, helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country.

But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice - she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice's husband, John, goes missing, and Alice starts to question everything around her: her relationship with her enigmatic friend, her decision to ever come to Tangier, and her very own state of mind.

Tangerine is an extraordinary debut, so tightly wound, so evocative of 1950s Tangier, and so cleverly plotted that it will leave you absolutely breathless.

I was intrigued by the title and blurb and (with the assurances of the book seller) was told that this was a great psychological thriller and I would be riveted from the first page. So I was impressed and a little seduced into buying this one. Now I must say there was a little I liked about the book, the use of language (being set in 1956 it was important to get this right), the descriptive set setting of Tangiers and the atmosphere but for me it ended there.

The first half of the book was essentially character and background building although the reader does not learn about the tragedy that happened to the main character Alice until about half way through the book. From then the pace should have ramped up, after all we have an obsessive college school mate who has sought Alice out and is determined to.........to what?.....We are led to believe that Lucy is probably a lesbian and has lusted after Alice for many years but this is not confirmed and not clear whether Alice reciprocates the feelings. So why has Lucy turned up in Tangiers and sought Alice out? Why indeed as this is not made clear which does make Lucy's actions a little hard to swallow.

Then lets look at Alice, we are led to believe she is a little fragile in her mind, is she insane? who knows, are we being told her side of the story through a madwoman's mind? Does the things that happen really happen? OK so far so good in terms of building an intriguing story except it's never made clear what is going on. Does her guardian Aunt Maude know Sophie is really Lucy and together they have plotted to have Alice committed? The timings of this is also off, Maude is Alice guardian and she gets her inheritance when she is 21 the problem here is that when she starts college she is 17 and when she leaves she's 21 and has been in Tangiers for at least a year and a half yet were told she's only 20 coming up for the end of her guardianship at 21. Bit confusing and sloppy really to get this timeframe muddled - it muddles the reader.

There is another murder and we do know who does it but then the introduction of a local man with a scar on his face is introduced - we never find out who he is or what purpose he has to the story and the ending is such a let down it all felt rather like Christine Mangan had an initial good idea for a book then ran out of steam mid way through.

So many questions were left hanging unanswered and the ending for me was just plain lazy - sorry I wanted to like this book but ended up feeling empty and dissatisfied. Can only give this a 2 star rating.

Wren by Katrina Lehman (illus. Sophie Beer)

Wren by Katrina Lehman (illus. Sophie Beer)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Sometimes we find what we’re looking for in the most unexpected places.

Wren just wants a bit of peace and quiet. What he gets is the noisiest baby sister you could ever imagine! But when Wren runs away to the country, he discovers that maybe peace and quiet isn’t all he needs …

To begin with I thought this was a book about autism and to help children understand what they are going through, however the further I got into the book I changed my mind on this.

This is about a little boy called Wren, he is part of a big family and likes peace and quiet. One day when he thinks the noise level can't get any worse, his mum and dad have a new baby girl and he gets to the point where he just can't stand it.

I think this is a good book for children with large families or new siblings. It may also be good for children who struggle with noise.

There are nice illustrations in the book, which you can get lost in for a while between pages. 

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.



#wren #scribblekidsbooks

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When Liv and Nora decide to take their husbands and children on a holiday cruise, everyone is thrilled. The ship's comforts and possibilities seem infinite. But when they all go ashore in beautiful Central America, a series of minor mishaps lead the families further from the ship's safety.

One minute the children are there, and the next they're gone.

What follows is a heart-racing story told from the perspectives of the adults and the children, as the distraught parents - now turning on one another and blaming themselves - try to recover their children and their shattered lives.

Not a fan of this novel. The pace was quite slow and onerous taking until chapter 8 before it really got going. I didn't engage with the characters who were not developed enough although the storyline was promising it wasn't crafted out well and because of this there was little opportunity for surprises as the author directed the reader.

It all seemed a bit contrived to me, the introduction of the poor child Noemi trying to reach her family travelling through unsafe South America seemed to have been invented to contrast with the main characters and added little to the story.

A disappointment really and the ending was weak and without any fireworks. Sadly this can only get 2 stars from me. There are far better books out there.

After the Eclipse by Francesca Dorricott with giveaway

After the Eclipse by Fran Dorricott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stunning psychological thriller about loss, sisterhood, and the evil that men do, for readers of Ruth Ware and S.K. Tremeyne

Two solar eclipses. Two missing girls.

Sixteen years ago a little girl was abducted during the darkness of a solar eclipse while her older sister Cassie was supposed to be watching her. She was never seen again. When a local girl goes missing just before the next big eclipse, Cassie - who has returned to her home town to care for her ailing grandmother - suspects the disappearance is connected to her sister: that whoever took Olive is still out there. But she needs to find a way to prove it, and time is running out.




What a great debut novel, full of twists and turns, a real page turner.

16 years after the disappearance of her sister, Cassie returns to Bishops' Green where it all happened to take care of her gran who has dementia and to escape her life in London. Haunted both by her sister Olive and her own guilt Cassie (a journalist) finds herself enmeshed in trying to uncover a similar disappearance in this sleepy backwater town. In doing so she embarks on a journey of self discovery and finally gets closer to the truth of the disappearance of Olive.

The plot is tightly woven and pulls you into this mystery like a magnet. There are so many secrets and lies that it was impossible to guess who the perpetrator was. Just as I thought I had it sussed another curve ball appeared to blow that theory out of the water.

Good likeable relatable characters, plenty of suspense and momentum kept this read at a fast pace - I devoured this in just under a day. The 'who dunnit' does not come out until the very end; a very accomplished debut that results in a very enjoyable read. I look forward to Fran's next novel - 5 stars and highly recommended.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.



Right, for the exciting part, I have a copy to offer for a giveaway, very kindly offered by the publisher. This giveaway is open for people living in the UK/USA and Canada. 

All you have to do is comment below why you should be picked and I will draw a winner from random.

 Good Luck! 

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The retreat at health-and-wellness resort Tranquillum House promises total transformation.

Nine stressed city dwellers are keen to drop their literal and mental baggage, and absorb the meditative ambience while enjoying their hot stone massages.

Miles from anywhere, without cars or phones, they have no way to reach the outside world. Just time to think about themselves, and get to know each other.

Watching over them is the resort's director, a woman on a mission. But quite a different one from any the guests might have imagined.

For behind the retreat's glamorous facade lies a dark agenda.

These nine perfect strangers have no idea what's about to hit them . . .

I really enjoyed this unusual story about 9 strangers who all end up booking into a health and wellness resort for different reasons and who all end up getting far more than they bargained for.

With a wide cast of characters with their own reasons for wanting to transform their lives (a claim that Tranquillem House offers) they embark on a journey that they hadn't anticipated during which they endure 10 cleansing programmes, daily smoothies, spa and therapy treatments along with personal exercise classes and five days of compulsory silence, this is shaping up to be a little more than most of the 'guests' expected.

Good likeable relatable characters with generous helpings of humour keep this novel ticking along nicely. We learn about all nine characters and their reasons for choosing the retreat and what they expect to get from it. Tranquillem House (set in Australia) is situated miles from anywhere and having had to surrender all electronic devices when they entered, our nine guests find themselves cut off from the outside world. The resort is run by a Russian called Marsha who turns out to be a ruthless woman who's own near death experience has led her to change her life and who believes she has the power to change others' lives (whether they like it or not).

While the calming programme seems innocent enough Marsha has a sinister agenda to which her unassuming guests will be subjected to.

Lovely characterisation of all of the nine participants make this a really realistic and enjoyable story and as it progresses the lives of these characters come to the fore. Good doses of humour and wit in this tale along with the madness of Marsha force these people together where unexpected bonds are made and dramatic transformations occur.

Loved the idea and the novel, well written and insightful with steady pace that makes it an easy read. I will never look at health spas and wellness centres quite the same again! Well worth 5 stars

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Her sister was murdered. The killer was never found. Until now…

All her childhood Ellie Enderlin had lived in her sister’s shadow. But then Lily was murdered and their family changed forever.

Now, decades later, Ellie comes into possession of Lila’s lost notebook and has a chance to finally discover the truth about her sister’s death. But her search for justice will lead her to uncover her sister’s darkest secrets…

I really struggled with this novel. I always try to finish a book and give an honest review but I only managed to get to chapter 13 and then had to put it away. To be honest the storyline was so flimsy which alone made it hard to keep going. The main character Ellie is searching for who killed her sister Lila many years previously. Lila's college professor (after meeting with Ellie and pumping her for information) writes a book about the murder and then makes assumptions on who the killer is. Lila is a maths student and has kept a journal with complicated maths calculations and theories and this is so overworked in the chapters that I did manage to read that made it too tedious to bother with. Too wordy and mathematically intense for me - sorry this only gets a 1 star rating.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Adults by Caroline Hulse Blog Tour

The Adults by Caroline Hulse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MEET THE ADULTS.

Claire and Matt are divorced but decide what's best for their daughter Scarlett is to have a 'normal' family Christmas. They can't agree on whose idea it was, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did - and it's too late to pull the plug.

Claire brings her new boyfriend Patrick, a seemingly eligible Iron-Man-in-Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life Alex, funny, smart, and extremely patient. Scarlett, their daughter, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He's a rabbit.

Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Organized Fun activities, drinking a little too much after bed-time, oversharing classified secrets about their pasts and, before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends - where this story starts - with a tearful, frightened, call to the police...

But what happened? They said they'd all be adults about this...


When this landed on my doormat to be reviewed I couldn't wait, from the premise and the cover I thought I was in for many laughs along the way. Unfortunately I didn't find it that funny and I kept waiting for the humour, which never came for me.

4 adults all intertwined by one girl Scarlett, the daughter of one of the original couples, all holidaying over Christmas together, accompanied by Posey a large pink rabbit (Scarlett's imaginary friend.) What could possibly go wrong for them all?

Starting with a call to the ambulance service one of them have been shot with an arrow, we don't know who and go back and forth through the book to get the answer.

The story was ok, different but not what I was expecting, I found although some of the chapters very short, some dragged and were slow. I also thought Alex, the girlfriend got a little muddled in the middle of the story and I am not sure I agree with the solution they all came up with at the end. I thought that was quite unrealistic.

The book was one that I am glad I have read, however it was not my cup of tea, there will be many who enjoy this book.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

On a Beautiful Day by Lucy Diamond blog tour

On a Beautiful Day by Lucy Diamond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Treasure every moment. Life can change in a heartbeat.

What the fans say: 'Wonderful characters and the stories are always great, with twists and turns' Gemma

It’s a beautiful day in Manchester and four friends are meeting for a birthday lunch. But then they witness a shocking accident just metres away which acts as a catalyst for each of them.


I love Lucy Diamond, her books allow you to really get into and get lost in the story, they are such easy reads. I also love that you can always find a character to relate to and this story is no different.

As soon as I began reading this I was lost in the story. Four best friends witness a tragic accident on the street while they are celebrating a birthday, this is an accident that changes their lives forever.

Over the course of the book we find out each individual story of the four friends, Eve, she finds a lump and is trying to ignore it. She doesn't want to go to the doctors about it, but after yet another accident decides she needs to tell someone, she then instantly regrets her choice. Laura is desperate for a baby but isn't sure it is going to happen. India gets reconnected with someone from her past and secrets start to resurface, and finally Jo moves in with her new boyfriend due to problems with her flat but he has a dreadful teenage daughter who won't warm to her.

This is a brilliant read, I always look forward to a Lucy Diamond novel and this was no different. This book has it all, love, friendship and heartache. A wonderfully written novel that I recommend you read. Also if you haven't read any of Lucy Diamond's books, where have you been? Go grab any of her books, you are guaranteed to love them!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Duractron Stereo Headphones, High Definition, in-ear, Noise Isolating, Powerful Bass, Pure Sound Compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad, MP3 Players, Samsung Galaxy, Nokia, HTC, Nexus, BlackBerry etc With Microphone (Silver)

Description:

• Impressive Stereo Sound: With supreme sound technology, Earbuds deliver powerful, deep and rich sound across a wide frequency range while blocking distractive outside noise.
• Comfort Wear: In ear and secure fit design make it doesn't fall out. Silicone sweat proof earbuds make it comfortable to wear.
• Easy Control: The built in microphone allows you to easily enjoy talking on phone everywhere. The multifunction button will control play/pause music; answer/ end calls.
• Compatibility: Ideal for Apple Devices; Android Smartphones; Windows Phones; Portable Music Players with 3.5 mm port.
• Warranty: 1 Year free Warranty and full support from Duractron, so you could purchase with confidence.

My thoughts:

These came well packaged in a brown box. Inside they were in a clear bag, this was O.K, I have bought earphones before for a similar price and they offer a little 'extra' they have come in a nice bag to keep them in. In my opinion if these were to come in a travel type bag I could keep in my handbag this would change these from being 4* to a 5*. To be honest that is only nit picking as the actually headphones were very good. It states they fit with iphone and android. As I have an iphone 7 they do not fit due to headphones needing to be bluetooth... (Which I must admit is the most annoying thing ever!)

I have however used these with my kindle and they work brilliantly. They come finished to a high standard and look a lot more expensive than they actually are. I also love the extra plastic ear pieces, in case they don't fit you have an opportunity to swap them and use the spare. I also like the volume control on the side of the head phones.

I would recommend these to others and as I said they only reason I have given these 4* and not 5* is down to them not coming in a protective case to stop them getting tangled in my bag, as you can see from the pictures the box they come in wouldn't really be suitable to keep them in indefinitely.