Two Women by Martina Cole

Two Women by Martina Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Danger and violence have always been part of Sue Dalston's East End upbringing. Unloved by her mother, abused by her father, and brutalised throughout her entire marriage, she's convicted of smashing her husband's skull in a final act of desperation. All that keeps her sane is knowing that she's done it to protect her four children. At last, they are safe from harm. When she is celled up with murderess Matilda Enderby, their fates become inextricably linked. And no one - least of all Sue - could have predicted the consequences . . 


This is a meaty book with 552 pages it is a investment on your time but such a surprisingly easy read it really didn’t seem to drag at all.

With believable characters and a strong storyline this novel treated sexual, physical and mental abuse with realistic brutality and yet the characters kept their dignity and respect throughout.

Some passages are truly awful in their depiction but the reader has to go on. I loved the East End connection and it resonated with me being a Londoner myself.

A cleverly crafted novel and immensely worthwhile read. Has to have 5 stars. Read it you won’t be disappointed.

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

Caught by Harlan Coben

Caught by Harlan Coben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

17 year-old Haley McWaid is a good girl, the pride of her suburban New Jersey family, captain of the lacrosse team, headed off to college next year with all the hopes and dreams her doting parents can pin on her. Which is why, when her mother wakes one morning to find that Haley never came home the night before, and three months quickly pass without word from the girl, the community assumes the worst.

Wendy Tynes is a reporter on a mission, to identify and bring down sexual predators via elaborate—and nationally televised—sting operations. Working with local police on her news program Caught in the Act, Wendy and her team have publicly shamed dozens of men by the time she encounters her latest target. Dan Mercer is a social worker known as a friend to troubled teens, but his story soon becomes more complicated than Wendy could have imagined.


I’m a fan of this writer who consistently turns out novels of the highest quality - Caught is not a disappointment.

Pacy dialogue and short meaningful chapters has this book moving at speed to keep the reader engaged. Harlen Coben is such a good story writer, characters that are so identfyible and convincing with just enough suspense and twists to give his novels staying power.

I won’t retell the story or give spoilers you need to read this and enjoy it as it was intended, no hype, no tricks, just a great read. Obviously for me a five star book.

The Stranger by Harlan Coben

The Stranger by Harlan Coben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.


I’m a huge fan of Harlan Coben and no matter what he writes he never disappoints.

This is a clever story and written so well. Adam Price’s world is blown apart one night when a total stranger approaches him in a bar and tells him a secret about his wife Corinne. Corinne then disappears, Adam, confused and desperate to find out the truth, finds himself drawn deeper into something dark and dangerous.

Adam discovers this stranger is revealing other people’s secrets that are destroying their lives. He knows he has to find out who the stranger is and stop him but also he believes he is the key to his wife’s disappearance.

Well formed characters with good pace and suspense has this novel racing you towards the end.

Another success for this prolific writer. Easily a five star read.

Seven Days by Alex Lake

Seven Days by Alex Lake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A race against time to save her child?

In seven days, Maggie's son, Max, turns three. But she's not planning a party or buying presents or updating his baby book. She's dreading it. Because in her world, third birthdays are the days on which the unthinkable happens? she loses her child.

For the last twelve years Maggie has been imprisoned in a basement. Abducted aged fifteen, she gave birth to two sons before Max, and on their third birthdays her captor came and took them from her.

She cannot let it happen again. But she has no idea how to stop it. And the clock is ticking?

A compulsive and addictive read from the first to the last page. Told through multiple viewpoints the story of a fifteen year old girl who is abducted while on her way to see a friend. She is imprisoned in a cellar beneath the abductors garage and remains there for 12 years. During this time she is raped and punished and has 3 sons. Each son is taken from her on their 3rd birthday and she never sees them again. Determined this won’t happen to her third son Max, Maggie resolves to get him out of his prison before his third birthday in seven days. In addition to her story we see how her disappearance affects her family and how they slowly fall apart particularly her younger brother James.

Short chapters give this story a pacey and urgent feel and time hopping fills in blanks through the story.

Good strong characters and an urgency to free Max kept this hurtling forward to the end. The ending was just as thrilling with the horrible thought that although it looked like it would be alright you were never completely sure and had to read to the end.

Highly recommended read, full of sadness that made me want to cry for Maggie and Max in parts. Couldn’t fault this one at all, it hits all the right spots - five stars.

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

That's Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt

That's Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A touchy-feely board book with simple, repetitive text, tactile patches and bold illustrations suitable for babies and toddlers. A little white mouse appears on every page, for children to spot.


My four month old absolutely loves this book. He loves the bright colours on each page and he is beginning to touch all the different textures.

As a parent I love the fact it introduces different adjectives to him and we can feel the texture to match the adjective.

The board book is nice and thick, it won't be long before he is helping me to turn the pages. He loves this book so much that after we have finished we read it again and he is just as interested in it as he was the first time.

The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson

The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Phoebe and Sam meet by chance at St Pancras station. Heading in opposite directions, both seeking their own adventures, meeting the love of their lives wasn’t part of the plan. So they make a promise: to meet again in the same place in twelve months' time if they still want to be together.

But is life ever as simple as that?

Wow, where do I start, first of all I cannot believe this is Miranda's tenth book! Where has the time gone?

I love a good chick lit and this one really lived up to my expectations. Phoebe and Sam meet at a train station after their trains have been delayed. They don't know each other and they are going in completely opposite directions but there is instant attraction. They meet and the connection they make is so strong that they decide they want to meet up at the same place next year. Will they meet again in a years time and will they still feel the same way?

This is a beautiful book, one that I would say even if romance isn't your thing you would enjoy. Reading this book it bought up so many questions as you were going through it, would they meet someone else? Would they feel the same if they met up in a year? Can they go the distance?

I personally think this would make a fantastic film. I don't want to say much more about the book as I don't want to spoil it for you. All you need to know if that you have to read this book! Just make sure you clear your schedule so you can really allow yourself to be immersed in it.

This is another brilliant novel by Miranda and I can't wait for her next.

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.

How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out: A guide to pregnancy and birth straight from the midwife's mouth by Clemmie Hooper

How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out: A guide to pregnancy and birth straight from the midwife's mouth by Clemmie Hooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Everything you wanted to know but were too embarrassed to ask – a guide to pregnancy and birth straight from the midwife’s mouth.

Winner of the Gold and Consumer Choice award at the Mumii Best Baby and Toddler Gear Awards 2017

Mum to four little girls and midwife to many, Clemmie Hooper wants to share her knowledge, wisdom and stories about pregnancy, birth and mothering young children that aren’t so widely talked about – straight from the midwife’s mouth. From how to prevent tearing during birth to what you really need in your labour bag, Clemmie reveals everything pregnant women and new mums need to know with a good dose of humour and wit.


I got bought this as a present when I was 16 weeks pregnant. I had never thought about buying this to be honest but I found it very informative.

I really liked how the book was laid out in the number of weeks and explained parts of pregnancy. It also had other elements to the book such as real life stories from mum's and handy tips throughout.

Overall this really helped me prepare for the birth and made me feel more comfortable with it.

If you are a first time mum I recommend you buy this book.

Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust by Holly Willoughby

Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust by Holly Willoughby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whether you’ve just had a baby or you’re about to welcome your new little bundle into the world, you probably have a LOT of questions …

I know I did! And I also know from first-hand experience with my three babies that one-size-fits all parenting doesn’t work. So this book is to help you find out what will work for you and your baby. I’ve included all the information and friendly advice I wish I’d been given before I became a mum for the first time, alongside the routines, shortcuts and tips that worked for me.

I hope this book will empower you during your first twelve months of parenthood to trust your own mummy intuition, and to care for your children in your own way – confidently and happily. We all have that intuition, we just need to learn to tune into it! With chapters on feeding, sleeping, wellbeing and lifestyle – as well as how to look after yourself – this book will equip you with all the know-how you need to get you through the sleepless nights and concerns, to all the magical first moments. It’s a collection of everything that worked for me as a new mum – and I hope it works for you, too.

Love, Holly xxx


Being a first time mum, it is daunting. I bought this book when I found out I was pregnant. I found this to be very informative, Holly although a celebrity, is one who is down to earth and I felt I could trust what she was saying after all, she has gone through it!

This is a book that I haven't read cover to cover but more of one that I can dip into when I feel the need. So far I have used it a lot and I feel I will continue to dip in and out of it. I love the layout of the book and also the images throughout.

I am tempted to purchase Holly's book on weaning so when the time comes I can be clued up with it.

I would recommend this to other first time mums.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We can’t choose the strangers we meet.

As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell’s Inn, they’re all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance.

Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid.

With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in – or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There’s a killer among them – and nowhere to run.

Until we find ourselves in a situation we can’t escape. Trapped


I loved The Couple Next Door and was equally impressed by this cleaver who dunnit in An Unwanted Guest. So typically Agatha Christie in the way the story is woven from the atmospheric setting of an isolated hotel cut off in a snow storm to the complex clever characterisation of the colourful and secretive guests. And as guests start dying the suspense builds as it hurtles the reader at breakneck speed like a runaway train to the end.

I loved the plot and pace of this novel, each guest hiding secrets that provide so many red herrings that it’s almost impossible to unravel the truth until Shari Lapena wants to reveal it to the reader.


Full of suspense this psychological thriller takes the reader on a roller coaster of a ride from start to finish - a great read truly a stand out novel and has to get a five star rating. Highly recommended.

Twisted by Steve Cavanagh

Twisted by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:

1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.

After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...

What a gifted writer Steve Cavanagh is he is brilliant at weaving intricate plots and pulling the reader in. Deeply twisted this novel will have you question everything and then some. Right from the very first chapter this addictive psychological thriller will have you galloping along unable to turn the pages quickly enough.

Just when you think you’ve worked it all out along comes another curve ball to knock your theory out of the park.

Good characters, believable storylines and enough tension and twisted inventiveness to keep you guessing until the end.

Brilliant, I think Steve Cavanagh has now joined my list of best psychological thriller writers. Recommended reading and for me a 5 star novel.

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

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder wasn't the hard part. It was just the start of the game.

Joshua Kane has been preparing for this moment his whole life. He's done it before. But this is the big one.

This is the murder trial of the century. And Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house.

But there's someone on his tail. Someone who suspects that the killer isn't the man on trial.

Kane knows time is running out - he just needs to get to the conviction without being discovered.

This novel is the forth in the Eddie Flynn series and my first Eddie Flynn novel by this author. Luckily for me its not necessary to read these in order as this can be enjoyed as a stand alone book.

It was such a gripping and fast paced read with an unusual and intriguing idea that the killer is actually a juror on the trial where he has framed someone for the murder that he in fact has committed.

With a ruthless prosecutor, a Hollywood movie star who is accused and a brilliantly yet flawed defence lawyer this novel screams along at breakneck speed until it hurtles the reader to its conclusion. Brilliantly twisty with good characters this thriller is one of the best I've read.

Has to have five stars and highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping novel.

Eye for Eye by J.K. Franko

Eye for Eye by J.K. Franko
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first met Susie, she appeared to be a normal, happily-married woman dealing with tragedy. Then, I uncovered her secrets. While I could understand everything that she d done, I could never approve. But, knowing what she was capable of, it became clear that if I was going to survive her, I had to play by her rules. And, the first and most important rule is... leave no singing bones.

My goodness what a tightly woven novel. It is Book 1 in the Talion Series and I cant wait to read the other two.

Full of hate, revenge and justice this thriller races along at breakneck speed in its desire to commit the perfect murder.

Full of twists and turns this propels the reader to the end but not the final conclusion.

Meticulously researched and scarily plausible I finished this novel in just a little over a day. I was hooked and although I needed to know the outcome I didn’t want it to end.

Rarely do I find a book that is so near perfect but I think this is it. Compelling storyline and sub plots, convincing characterisation and enough pace and twists to keep it alive right to the end.

Has to get 5 stars - I can’t wait to read Book 2 and 3 in the series. A little taster of book 2 follows on from the end of this one and I’m hooked already!

Highly recommended

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.

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! 

The Day We Met: The perfect epic love story to read this Valentine’s Day by Roxie Cooper

The Day We Met: The perfect epic love story to read this Valentine’s Day by Roxie Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stephanie doesn’t believe in fate, true love or living happily ever after. She’s content enough being engaged to Matt. But then she meets Jamie, who understands her more than anyone else ever has.

Jamie is happily married to his childhood sweetheart Helen and believes in everything Stephanie doesn’t. So why does he have such a strong connection with Stephanie?

When Stephanie and Jamie meet one fateful weekend in 2006 it will change everything...

Ten years. Two people. One epic love story.


Its been a long time since I really felt like I have been invested wholey in a book but this one I did just that. Sometimes I am put off with the length of a story, currently working full time it can be hard for me to really get into it and then it can spoil my enjoyment of the book. I didn't need to worry with this one though, I raced through the pages and even after a hard day, I was eager to pick the book up to continue with the story.

This story takes place over 10 years, Stephanie and Jamie meet by fate when Stephanie attends a course. The book then is told from both of their perspectives over the decade. Both of them are with other people, but over the years their relationship develops, they are meant to be together, soul mates, who unconsciously have been searching for each other, but it's too late now isn't it?

I really felt for Stephanie as I was reading the novel, to be what obviously feels like trapped in a relationship you don't want to be in must be awful, convincing herself that she loves her husband. One where you are going through the motions and keeping up with the Jones' just because you feel this is the right thing to do.

When every time Stephanie and Jamie met, you could almost feel their connection, you were routing for them to make it work, to have their happy ever after, but you just didn't know how it would end. No matter how hard they tried to stay away from each other they always were drawn back together.

This is a love story, a tangled mess of relationships but one that you cannot help but enjoy. After all, you can't help who you fall in love with, you just have to hope you have found the right one and that you both feel the same.

I really enjoyed this book, it is one that will stay with me for a very long time. The only part of the book I didn't particularly enjoy was the ending. It was cruel and heartbreaking, I can't say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for you, as this is one book you have to read this year.

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

Bad Apple by Zoje Stage

Bad Apple by Zoje Stage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seven-year-old Hanna has never spoken a word.

She is a sweet but silent angel in the eyes of her adoring father, but with Mummy, things are different. Suzette loves her daughter but difficulties with babysitters and teachers over the years have put a strain on their relationship and her sanity.

Then Hanna speaks for the first time, to Suzette alone, and what she says is chilling.

Suzette wants to write it off as a scary joke, but she’s becoming increasingly frightened by Hanna's little games. Could she be in danger from her own child? And when it's her word against her daughter's, can she make her husband believe her?

A twisty, darkly compulsive psychological thriller/horror tale realistically creepy and deeply disturbing.

This is written alternately between Suzette (the mother) and Hannah (the child) which chronicles the events between a mother and a very manipulative little girl whose blatant refusal to speak drives a wedge between them. Hannah was a normal baby but when she reached the age to be able to speak she simply refused to do so. Her parents tried everything with her and took her to countless doctors and hospitals for tests but they could find nothing wrong with her. Her inability to speak lead to problems in schooling her and (what they perceived to be Hannah's frustration to communicate) consequently her bad behaviour around other children meant that she eventually was considered to be too much of a handful and schools didn't want her. Suzette took on her schooling at home but eventually she felt she couldn't cope with her and being trapped in the house with a frustrated and often manipulative child was taking its toll on Suzette with constant battle of wills and tantrums. That is until daddy comes home, at which point this wilful child turns into a smiling, loving angel who has all his attention and his indulgence. Like most fathers they find parenting so easy as they only see their children for a fraction of the day while the mothers may have had the day from hell. Suzette is left feeling pathetic and whingey that she can't cope with her child.

Suzette is also at a disadvantage as she has health problems and through a combination of pain and lack of sleep finds Hannah a handful and is constantly questioning her parenting skills. Hannah is quite menacing and we glimpse an insight into a childs' mind and how they can misunderstand actions and signals and pull these round to justify their bad behaviour. Once we know there is nothing mentally wrong with Hannah (or at least nothing she has been tested for) the child takes on a more chilling and calculated persona. Every little victory for her is a loss for Suzette. Eventually Hannah does speak but it's frighteningly like she is possessed. Zoje Stage is careful to keep Hannah's 'voice' as childish as possible which only adds to the creepiness of the whole situation.

Daddy of course does not at first believe there is anything amiss with his perfect angel of a child, who overall appears to be very advanced for her age. I found the researching on the internet by a seven year old a bit of a stretch but to enjoy this you have to accept a few leaps of faith. Suzette although weakened by her illness does become genuinely afraid of her daughter and I could see how this could manifest itself in rational mothers. But she has to accept she is the adult and take control of the situation.

I felt there was a shift of power when Suzette does become as manipulative as Hannah when she has to convince daddy that the best course of action would be to take Hannah away from the family home. By now the situation has gone on too long and Hannah has targeted Suzette as the focus for all her misfortunes regarding her obsession with her father and Suzette is afraid for her life. Strangely I got the impression that although Suzette had suffered at the at the hands of her daughter she does really still love her but doesn't like her which allows her to become removed from emotion. Suzette is happy that she is no longer in the house and both her and her husband have more time for each other and with their loyalties no longer divided they are returning to a time when there was no Hannah, they find they are more at peace without her.

It is a disturbing look into the mind of a child that is wilful and manipulative and shows what can and sometimes does happen when a child is given too much attention and is allowed to 'control' and run the show. I know of a lot of children who are given rein to do what they please and have little boundaries which make them difficult to handle and although Hannah did have these she was able to play off one parent against the other like a game, a game which she very much enjoyed that gave her power.

A good read that was well executed by the author. Initially I was convinced that there was some mental problem with the child but as I read on (and being a somewhat spirited child myself) I could see perfectly the opportunities that Hannah had to get her own way and gain attention from a doting father, and unfortunately for her, the consequences that bought out the monster in her that in the end she couldn't control - or could she?

There's a sequel in there somewhere I'm sure and I'd love to read it. 5 stars from me.

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

Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon

Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tamsin and her best friend Michelle have been inseparable since they were teenagers. Even now they spend all their time together, along with Patrick, Michelle's handsome husband.

So when Tamsin hears a rumour that Patrick is having an affair, she is furious. Unwilling to ignore it, Tamsin plots a scheme to catch Patrick in the act, using her assistant Bea as live-bait. It should be fool proof.
After all, Tamsin can trust Bea with anything. From her daily coffee order to fetching her dry-cleaning, writing reports and doing all the filing - Bea does everything with a smile on her face.

Except Tamsin never considered Bea might have her own agenda.

And if she does, then Tamsin really needs to watch her back . . .

Really enjoyed this clever, funny, entertaining chick lit by Jane Fallon. The characters were beautifully drawn with all their faults and insecurities that allow the reader an insight into their relationships and friendships. Peppered with lies, cheating, dishonesty and a sprinkling of revenge and jealousy this was a great read.

Told initially in the POV of Tamsin we learn initially all about her and develop an understanding of why (in part) she feels compelled to involve herself in her best friends marriage and expose cheating, lying Patrick, and the hazards of doing so. Part two of the novel you hear other characters 'speak' which allows the 'penny to drop' but also gives the reader choices of who to side with. This change of 'voice' in part two then pivots the pace to race towards the (not entirely expected) ending.

Hugely entertaining, great believable relatable characters, revenge and jealousy with a little romance thrown in for good measure, what's not to like? Intriguing and well woven plots, plenty of little surprises it has to get 5 stars - Jane Fallon is up there with the best in Chick lit writers.

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

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everything seems picture-perfect in the town of Fairview, Connecticut, until one night the unthinkable happens: a young woman, Jenny Kramer, is brutally attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately thereafter, Jenny is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But in the weeks and months that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, she wrestles with her raging emotional memory.

Jenny's father, Tom, becomes obsessed in his quest for justice though her mother, Charlotte, struggles to pretend this horrific event did not touch her carefully-constructed world. Soon the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows, where they have been hidden for years. Meanwhile, Jenny remains haunted by what she can and cannot remember. . .and her attacker is still on the loose.

Dark and thought provoking thriller that explores experimental treatment that will erase memories of an horrific rape that a girl suffers when she is attacked at a party.

Believing that she is doing the right thing, Jennys' mother makes the decision to let her daughter who was attacked have the drug (previously used on trauma patients) to erase her memory of the attack. Jenny's father is conflicted, he wants the attacker found and if her memory is wiped all hope of that happening is gone. He is also wracked with guilt that he couldn't have protected her and feels it is his duty to find this man. Because treatment must be given within hours of the attack for it to be effective it leaves very little time for her parents to think things over or speak to any other professional. Believing it is the best course of action, Jenny's mother pushes for it to be done.

However, the treatment does not completely rid Jenny of the experience and her emotional and physiological memory of the incident are still living on in her body which causes her to have extreme anxiety and depression. She does have additional counselling through a support group where a psychiatrist works with victims. While she is being counselled her father is unravelling and crazed with finding her attacker. Her mother is coping the best way she can by convincing herself they can put this behind them.

It is a deep and dark psychological novel highlighting the effects of decisions made and consequences that propel people down specific paths in life. It is brutal in its honesty and frighteningly real in its portrayal.

The narrators identity is not revealed until late in the book and although not entirely surprising it was not immediately obvious.

It kind of has the 'be careful what you wish for' warning - sometimes its' not good to tamper with events but the appeal of having all the trauma taken away from you must be tempting. Its worth remembering that the brain is complex and 'quick fix' experimental solutions may have long term unpredictable consequences.

Lots of curve balls to send you down blind alleys in this book with good pace and plenty of suspense. Although the writer takes pains to tell us that the drug does not exist it makes you wonder how close we are to developing something similar and what the consequences would be should it ever be used.

Have to give this one 5 stars for its originality and spellbinding story telling.

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