Feathertide by Beth Cartwright

Blurb

"Born covered in the feathers of a bird, and kept hidden in a crumbling house full of secrets, Marea has always known she was different, but never known why. And so to find answers, she goes in search of the father she has never met.

The hunt leads her to the City of Murmurs, a place of mermaids and mystery, where jars of swirling mist are carried through the streets by the broken-hearted.

And Marea will never forget what she learns there.

Feathertide is an enchanting, magical novel perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale."

Published July 2020

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing a copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful cover of this book and it's unusual premise and that feeling of curiosity continued throughout the book.

Beginning with Marea's childhood hidden in the basement of a brothel, you follow her story as she explores the limited world around her, guided by her mother, the whores and a professor to teach her about the wider world. Before too long, being told about the world isn't enough and Marea sets out to find her father and learn the truth about herself. 

I was really excited to find out about the City of Murmurs but felt a little let down as, to me, it didn't seem quite as magical and wondrous as I was expecting from the blurb and the story slowed down for a while as Marea settles in and does a lot of dog walking. However, there are some beautiful descriptions of Marea's world and the City of Murmurs and I enjoyed the story as Marea met more characters and started to open herself up to love in different forms.

An intriguing, coming of age story that didn't quite draw me all the way in but was very enjoyable. I give this 3 out of 5.

Blog Tour: Coming Home to Penvennan Cove by Linn B. Halton

Blurb

"Can Kerra's Cornish hometown offer the fresh start she needs?

When Kerra left the quiet Cornish town of Penvennan Cove for the bright lights of London she didn't look back. But after the death of her mother, she's decided it's time to face her past and return to the place she called home. Her father needs her, and perhaps she needs him more than she's willing to admit?

Tackling town gossip, home renovations and a flame from her past, it's not quite smooth sailing for Kerra. Ross is the bad boy she was meant to forget, not a man who still sets her heart aflutter. As he helps bring her dream home to life, they begin to break down the barriers that have been holding them back and in the process learn things about themselves they never thought possible.

As friends old and new come together, the future in Penvennan looks bright."

Due to by published 8th October 2020.
With thanks to the author, published and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Returning from her busy London life to the scenic Cornish village of her childhood, Kerra is a determined lady who doesn't hesitate to step in and help to get the job done. She's been very successful in the past and now wants to spend time with her dad and old friends while she decides what she wants to do next. Personally I occasionally thought she was a little bit arrogant, thinking she always knows best and assuming everyone is desperate to know what she's doing next, but her heart is in the right place and she wants the best for everyone she cares about.

There's a delightful romantic energy between Kerra and Ross and I enjoyed reading how their relationship develops and about their past. Sy and Tegan, along with a whole village of other characters add fun and energy to the story. Ripley the Bengal cat is a great character in her own right and adds plenty of drama!

Set in a village in the beautiful Cornish countryside, there is a strong sense of community and everyone knowing everyone else's business!

A lovely Cornish adventure full of friendship, loyalty and romance, I give this 4 out of 5.

The Author

Linn B. Halton is a #1 bestselling author of contemporary romantic fiction. In 2013 she won the UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantion Fiction Award. Originally from Bristol, she now lives in the Welsh valleys with her husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy.

For Linn, life is all about family, friends and writing. She is a self-confessed hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. When Linn is not writing, she spends time in the garden weeding or practising Tai Chi. And she is often found with a paintbrush in her hand indulging her passion for upcycling furniture.

Her novels have been translated in to Italian, Czech and Croatian. She also writes as Lucy Coleman.

Visit Linn's website at: https://linnbhalton.com

And follow her on Twitter: @LinnBHalton

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Blog Tour: Love Me Like You Do by Aimee Brown

Blurb

"A runaway bride. A handsome stranger. Two pasts to put behind them.

Parker is ready to marry the man of her dreams. But he isn't ready to marry her. When she's dumped moments before walking down the aisle, she didn't expect to run into the arms of a handsome stranger. The southern drawl, the dreamy eyes, she can't fall for another man after being left at the altar – can she?

When Liam agreed to go on yet another blind date, he didn't expect his escape would lead him to the emergency room with a runaway bride. She might have just been left at the altar, but he's immediately drawn to her fiery spirit, kind heart and beautiful smile. Liam's got a whole host of problems and a past that's haunting him, now can't be the time to fall in love, but Parker might just be the one to break down his barriers and let him live a little – if she'll let him in.


Will these two strangers allow serendipity to force them together, or will their fears keep them apart?

From the bestselling author of The Lucky Dress comes a story about love, finding yourself and living your dreams."

Published 17th September 2020
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Parker is reeling from being dumped at the altar when she bumps into Liam for the first time and I felt an instant connection between them.

The story is split between Parker and Liam's points of view. Parker is a kind-hearted ER nurse with a close-knit family and a habit of being in embarrassing situations, usually whenever Liam is around. I really liked how authentically herself Parker was, she didn't make any apologies for loving romantic films and for knowing what she wanted.

Liam has had a tough start to life but despite this is charming and thoughtful. I really enjoyed finding out his past and how it links with the events in the story.

I really enjoyed this fun, whirlwind romance, which I can really imagine on the big screen. I give this 5 out of 5.

The Author

Aimee Brown is a writer of romantic comedies set in Portland, Oregon, and an avid reader. She spends much of her time writing, raising three teenagers, binge-watching shows on Netflix and obsessively cleaning and redecorating her house. She’s fluent in
sarcasm and has been known to utter profanities like she’s competing for a medal.

Aimee grew up in Oregon, but is now a transplant living in cold Montana with her husband of twenty years, three teenage children, and far too many pets. She is a lot older than she looks and yes, that is a tattoo across her chest. (In the Portlandia spirit, yes, I lived many years in PDX and I do indeed have a bird tattooed on me (2!))

Aimee is very active on social media. You can find her at any of the networks below.

Stop by and say hello!

Twitter: @AimeeBWrites
Instagram: @authoraimeeb
Facebook: @authoraimeeb

Links to buy the book:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bpI2zK
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2WvEA2g
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2WYRZ1K
iBooks: https://apple.co/3gdxciw

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Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks

Blurb

"Daisy and Simon’s marriage is great, isn’t it?

After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three.

And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes – Daisy’s used to it, she knows he’s letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And that happy little family of three will never be the same again.

In Lies Lies Lies Sunday Times bestseller Adele Parks explores the darkest corners of a relationship in freefall in a mesmerising tale of marriage and secrets."

Published September 2019
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.



My Review

Simon's relationship with alcohol has started to take precedence over everything else in his life, despite how much he loves Daisy and their daughter Millie. Things start to go terribly wrong for the family and I think I gasped out loud at a few points in the book as events unfolded.

Told in alternating chapters between Daisy and Simon's points of view, I absolutely couldn't put this down and meant for a very late night finishing it! The twists were amazing as I didn't see them coming.

This was an absolutely gripping read but very emotional at times too. I give it 5 out of 5.

The Author

Adele Parks was born in Teesside, NE England. She studied English Language and Literature, at Leicester University. She published her first novel, Playing Away, in 2000; that year the Evening Standard identified Adele as one of London’s ‘Twenty Faces to Watch.’ Indeed Playing Away was the debut bestseller of 2000.

She’s sold over a million copies of her work in the UK but also sells throughout the world. Two of her novels (Husbands and Still Thinking of You) are currently being developed as movie scripts. Young Wives’ Tales was short listed for the Romantic Novelist Association Award 2008. She has written numerous articles and short stories for many magazines and newspapers and often appears on radio and TV talking about her work.

Since 2006 Adele has been an official spokeswoman for World Book Day and wrote a Quick Read, Happy Families as part of the celebrations of World Book Day, 2008.

Adele has spent her adult life in Italy, Botswana and London, up until a few years ago when she moved to Guildford, where she now lives with her husband and son.

http://www.adeleparks.com

Breathless by Jennifer Niven

Blurb


"Your first love, your first time, your first heartbreak. The new novel from Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places.

You were my first. Not just sex, although that was part of it, but the first to look past everything else into me. Some of the names and places have been changed, but the story is true.

Claudine Henry was not supposed to spend her summer on this remote island off the coast of Georgia.

She was supposed to be on a road trip with her best friend, spending every last minute together before they go to college.

But after her father makes a shock announcement, she is exiled with her shaken mother, with no phone service and no one she knows. She is completely cut off.


Until she meets Jeremiah. Free spirited, mysterious and beautiful, their chemistry is immediate and irresistible.

They both know that whatever they have can only last the summer, but maybe one summer is enough..."

Due to be published 29th September 2020.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Claudine has had a happy childhood and is just finishing high school when her dad announces he wants to split up from her mum. Claude is left spinning in the shock of it all and with strict instructions not to talk about it with any of her friends, she has no outlet for the tidalwave of emotions threatening to engulf her.

Claude and her mum travel to a remote island with a lot of family history to get away from it all. Here she meets Jeremiah and is instantly drawn to him even as she is trying to deal with the shock from her dad's news. Miah has a difficult family life and a lot of responsibilities at home so his time on the island is special to him.

There are some beautiful descriptions of the island and a focus on nature. I also really enjoyed the way the author wrote about the history of the island as well as the present.

This is a story of first love, first sex, growing up and learning to deal with change. I couldn't put it down! I give this 5 out of 5.

The Author

The author of many successful books, including All The Bright Places which has been made into a movie which is available on Netflix now.

http://www.jenniferniven.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jenniferniven/

Blog Tour Review: A Perfect Paris Christmas

Blurb

"United in grief. Pushed apart by tragedy.

Keeley Andrews knows more than anyone that you only live once. So when she receives an invitation to spend two weeks in Paris, all expenses paid, she jumps at the chance.

Ethan Bouchard has had the worst eighteen months of his life. He's ready to give up on everything, including his hotel chain. So when he meets Keeley, it simply isn't the right time.

As Keeley and Ethan continue to bump into each other on the romantic Parisian streets, they can't help but wonder whether this is fate telling them to let go of the past and leap into the future...

Head to Paris this Christmas and fall in love under the lights of the Eiffel Tower with best-selling author, Mandy Baggot."


Published 3rd September 2020
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Keeley is recovering from the loss of her sister Bea in a terrible accident which also left Keeley seriously injured and needing a kidney transplant. Living with her parents in a highly protective environment Keeley is worried about taking care of the precious gift she has been given but also that she is not living her life to the full. Mandy Baggot handles the topic of organ donation and transplants with care and sensitivity.

When the mother of her organ donor makes contact and invites Keeley to Paris to meet her, Keeley decides it's a chance she needs to take, accompanied by her exuberant friend Rach. I enjoyed reading about Keeley's friendship with both Rach and Erica, who Keeley has met in very difficult circumstances.

I also enjoyed reading the sections of the novel from Ethan's point of view. He has had a traumatic past but is trying to make the most of life and is nervous of his feelings for Keeley. I also loved how he was with Jeanne and how that part of the story developed.

Set in the beautiful city of Paris in the lead up to Christmas, the writer evokes a sense of wonder in the simple things in life in this novel. It also makes me want to visit Paris more than ever before!

A wonderfully romantic story, I gave this 4 out of 5.

The Author

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer.

The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance, her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016.

Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, white wine, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor.

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two daughters.

Visit Mandy’s website at http://www.mandybaggot.com/

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Blog Tour: The Search Party by Simon Lelic

Blurb

"16-year-old Sadie Saunders is missing.

Five friends set out into the woods to find her.

But they're not just friends...

THEY'RE SUSPECTS.

You see, this was never a search party.

It's a witch hunt.

And not everyone will make it home alive."

Published August 20th 2020 by Penguin

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


My Review

With a gripping premise like this I defy anyone not to pick up The Search Party by Simon Lelic.

The story is split between the point of view of the investigating Detective Fleet, who has a mysterious past, and the teenagers as they give their accounts at the police station of what happened in the woods.

Personally, I preferred the sections from Fleet's point of view as I found them more gripping. The teenagers accounts felt a bit like a continuous stream of thought describing everything that happened, but the author did capture a sense of youth in his writing as they described the events. I'd have liked it to be written as a conversation between the detective and each of the friends.

It took a while for me to really become engrossed in this story but once I was about halfway through I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to know what happened. An interesting story with a great twist. I give this 3 out of 5.


The Author

Simon Lelic was born in 1976 and has worked as a journalist in the UK and currently runs his own business in Brighton, England, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird

Blurb

"Glasgow, 2025. Dr Amanda Maclean is called to treat a patient with flu-like symptoms. Within three hours he is dead. This is how it begins.

The unknown virus sweeps through the hospital with deadly speed.

The victims are all men.

Dr Maclean raises the alarm. But by the time the authorities listen to her, the virus has spread to every corner of the world. Threatening families. Governments. Countries.

Can they find a cure before it’s too late?

Can they stop #TheEndOfMen?"


Due to be published by HarperCollins UK 29 April 2021

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

It's hard to believe that when the author wrote this book, none of has had ever heard of Covid 19. The premise of this book is terrifying, a virus which wipes out 90% of men but can be carried asymptomatically by women as well.

Told through different newspaper articles and the perspectives of women affected by the plague in many different ways, the writing is insightful, sensitive and packs an emotional punch. Some of the events the author describes have been eerily accurate from the pandemic experience we have been going through recently, but with the extreme severity of the plague in this book it is really heart-wrenching as fathers, husbands, brothers and sons are lost to the disease indiscriminately. The exploration of how the world would change in such a devastating situation was fascinating.

This is a powerful, heartbreaking, gripping read and I give it 5 out of 5.

The Author

Olive by Emma Gannon

Blurb

"OLIVE is many things.

Independent.
Adrift.
Anxious.
Loyal.
Kind.
Knows her own mind.

It’s ok that she’s still figuring it all out, navigating her world without a compass. But life comes with expectations, there are choices to be made, boxes to tick and – sometimes – stereotypes to fulfil. And when her best friends’ lives start to branch away towards marriage and motherhood, leaving the path they’ve always followed together, Olive starts to question her choices – because life according to Olive looks a little bit different.

Moving, memorable and a mirror for every woman at a crossroads, OLIVE has a little bit of all of us. Told with great warmth and nostalgia, this is a modern tale about the obstacle course of adulthood, milestone decisions and the ‘taboo’ about choosing not to have children."

Published 23 July 2020
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Olive is a refreshing, original story examining the expectations placed on women to have children.

Olive, a woman in her early thirties, is trying to decide what she wants from life despite the pressures placed on her by her partner, family, friends and society. It's shocking how often relative strangers and acquaintances feel they can ask a woman when she's having children. This is such a personal question. She may desperately want to have children but is struggling to conceive or she may not want children at all and then is sometimes faced with judgement for this decision.

This book exposes many dimensions to this issue through Olive and her friends who are all in different places in their lives, which unfortunately causes some conflict between them. I really liked the ultimate strength of their friendship and how they stood by each other through life's twists and turns.

This is a powerful, timely, feminist novel. I give this 4 out of 5.

The Author

This is the debut novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author, Emma Gannon.

https://www.goodreads.com/emmagannon

Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan

Blurb

"It happened,
             again and again
             and
again and again and again.

Together
             apart.
In love
             in aching.

Tangled
unravelling.

Ana and Connor have been having an affair for three years. In hotel rooms and coffee shops, swiftly deleted texts and briefly snatched weekends, they have built a world with none but the two of them in it.

But then the unimaginable happens, and Ana finds herself alone, trapped inside her secret.

How can we lose someone the world never knew was ours? How do we grieve for something no one else can ever find out? In her desperate bid for answers, Ana seeks out the shadowy figure who has always stood just beyond her reach – Connor's wife Rebecca.

Peeling away the layers of two overlapping marriages, Here is the Beehive is a devastating excavation of risk, obsession and loss."

Published 20th August 2020
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Sarah Crossan's freeverse writing style is very engrossing, it's so clever how she can tell a story so succinctly and still create a world of emotions. I've read a few of her children's and young adult books and loved them. This is her first adult novel and the tale of adultery and loss was certainly different to her other books.

Ana has been having an affair with Connor for three years when he dies unexpectedly and she is left grieving but can't let explain to anyone why she is behaving so erratically. I felt sorry for Ana that she has lost someone she loves and also that she had found love in a complex situation that she couldn't find a way to resolve. It gradually emerges that not only she is she sleeping with someone else's husband, she has a husband and children herself. Life and love are complex but I struggled with this storyline at times.

This is beautifully written and emotional at times but Ana and Connor's selfishness frustrated me. I gave this 3 out of 5.

The Author

Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature before training as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and worked to promote creative writing in schools before leaving teaching to write full time.

She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.

She currently lives in NYC.

House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas

Blurb

"Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.


Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love."

Review

I can't rave enough about this book! Sarah J. Maas has an incredible talent for writing in such a way that I'm instantly immersed in the story and attached to the characters. Even as you plunge into the story and are a bit overwhelmed by the depth of the world she has created, I found myself caught in the current and unable to put the book down.

I love how strong and independent Bryce is and how she fights for what she wants and when she meets Hunt, sparks fly. I won't talk too much about the actual story as I don't want to give any surprises away, but I was completely gripped and went through a kaleidoscope of emotions throughout. There aren't many books which can make you laugh and cry within a few chapters, let alone pages!

This is an incredible new fantasy world and I can't wait to read the next instalment! I give this 5 out of 5.

The Author

Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband, son and canine companion.

http://sarahjmaas.com/

The Vow by Debbie Howells

Blurb

"Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. Then that night, Matt, her fiancé, doesn’t come home. Desperate, Amy calls the police – but when Matt fails to emerge, she’s forced to call off her wedding day.

Then another man is reported missing, by a woman called Fiona – a man meeting Matt’s description, who was about to leave his fiancée for her. He was supposed to be moving in with her – but instead, he’s vanished.

Amy refuses to believe Fiona’s lover can be her Matt – but photos prove otherwise, and it soon becomes clear that Matt has been leading a double life. As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met.

The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might."

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review

I was really intrigued by the concept of this book but sadly it didn't live up to my expectations. I was keen to find out what had happened to Matt but I thought the execution was a bit clumsy and I found the conversations to be quite stilted at times between the characters. Also, one minute the police were being friendly with Amy, then they were suspicious of her, then they were chatting with her like they were friends... it was all a bit odd.

Amy's character has a lot of secrets, even from herself, and I enjoyed finding out her past as this unravelled alongside the main storyline. It was clever that you didn't really know who to believe between Amy and Fiona, the other woman.

Amy's daughter Jess was the best character in the book and her parts of the story kept me engaged. Although Jess' boyfriend Rik seemed a bit unnecessary to the story as she would ask him to look into something but then find it out herself.

I still think the author had a good idea for the story but the writing could have been improved. I really hate to write a negative review but unfortunately this book just didn't work for me.

I gave this 2 out of 5.

The Sight of You by Holly Miller

Blurb

"Would you choose love . . .
. . . If you knew how it would end?

Joel is afraid of the future.

Since he was a child he's been haunted by dreams about the people he loves. Visions of what's going to happen - the good and the bad. And the only way to prevent them is to never let anyone close to him again.

Callie can't let go of the past.

Since her best friend died, Callie's been lost. She knows she needs to be more spontaneous and live a bigger life. She just doesn't know how to find a way back to the person who used to have those dreams.

Joel and Callie both need a reason to start living for today.
And though they're not looking for each other, from the moment they meet it feels like the start of something life-changing.

Until Joel has a vision of how it's going to end . . ."

Published 11th June 2020 by Hodder & Stoughton (first published June 9th 2020)
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review

You would think that being able to see the future would be a useful skill, but for Joel it is a constant torment. He lives in fear of the next dream about someone he loves where the dream predicts something terrible happening. Meanwhile, he is hiding his secret from everyone he knows which is making his life very lonely. I felt really sorry for Joel as he has lost hope for his own future and being able to do anything with his life.

Callie has been putting off following her passions and has recently lost one of her best friends.

As soon as they meet there is an undeniable connection between Joel and Callie but Joel is afraid to let anyone else into his life. He already lives in fear for his family and friends. They way the author writes about their relationship as it grows and changes was really lovely. I also enjoyed the cast of characters surrounding them both.

This was an incredibly moving and heartbreaking story, which is beautifully written between Callie and Joel's points of view. The only thing that I didn't like so much was when some parts of Callie's story were set further in the future than the main story which gave some things away before they happened - beyond the predictions of the future by Joel.

This was a beautiful read. I gave this 4 out of 5.

The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina

Blurb

"We all have something to tell those we have lost . . .

When Yui loses her mother and daughter in the tsunami, she wonders how she will ever carry on. Yet, in the face of this unthinkable loss, life must somehow continue. Then one day she hears about a man who has an old disused telephone box in his garden. There, those who have lost loved ones find the strength to speak to them and begin to come to terms with their grief. As news of the phone box spreads, people will travel there from miles around.

Soon Yui will make her own pilgrimage to the phone box, too. But once there she cannot bring herself to speak into the receiver. Then she finds Takeshi, a bereaved husband whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of their loss.

What happens next will warm your heart, even when it feels as though it is breaking."

Published June 25th 2020 by Manilla Press (first published January 14th 2020)
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review

Set after the tsunami which devastated Fukushima in Japan in 2011, the story follows Yui who lost her mother and daughter in the tsunami. The story moves back and forth in time between the days immediately following the disaster and the years that follow.

When Yui discovers the phone box hidden in rural Japan where people go to talk to their lost loved ones, she makes the long journey to see if it will help her, but when she gets there she doesn't feel ready to speak yet. She starts to build new connections with the other people who visit the phone box in Bell Gardia who speak into the wind to feel closer to their loved ones. The author tells their stories tenderly and sensitively.

Originally published in Italian as Quel che affidiamo al vento (What we entrust to the wind), the book is based on a real place run by a couple in Japan which can be visited by those who are grieving.

This is a really beautiful novel exploring loss, grief and finding hope when so much has been lost. I gave this 4 out of 5.

The Author

Laura Imai Messina è nata a Roma e si è laureata in Lettere all’Università la Sapienza.

Si è trasferita a Tokyo a ventitré anni per perfezionare la lingua e da allora abita stabilmente in Giappone. Ha ottenuto un dottorato di primo livello in Culture Comparate presso l’International Christian University con una tesi sulla scrittrice giapponese Ogawa Yōko e ha conseguito presso la Tokyo University of Foreign Studies un PhD con una tesi comparativa sul tema della materialità nella letteratura giapponese ed europea. Attualmente è docente a contratto di lingua italiana in alcune delle più prestigiose università della capitale.

Laura Imai Messina was born in Rome and graduated from the Sapienza University of Rome with a degree in literature.

She transferred to Tokyo to perfect the language and now lives permanently in Japan. She obtained a first level doctorate in Comparative Culture at International Christian University with a thesis on the Japanese writer Ogawa Yōko and at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies she obtained a PhD with a comparative thesis on the subject of materiality in Japanese and European literature. She is currently a contract teacher of Italian in some of the most prestigious universities in the capital.

Website: https://www.lauraimaimessina.com/

Blog Tour Review: The Never Have I Ever Club by Mary Jayne Baker

Blurb

"Robyn Bloom thought Ash Barnes was the love of her life - until one day he announced he was leaving her to fly halfway across the world.

Months later, Robyn is struggling to move on - but then she has a brainwave: The Never Have I Ever Club. Her handsome next door neighbour Will helps her bring their fellow Yorkshire villagers together for some carpe-diem-inspired fun.

From burlesque dancing to Swedish massages, everyone has plenty of bucket-list activities to try, but it doesn't take long for Robyn to realise what – or who – her heart truly desires: Will.

There's just one problem: he's Ash's twin brother.

Make that two problems: Ash is moving home... and he wants Robyn back."

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of the book and for allowing me to take part in the blog tour!

Review

Robyn is still really hurt and angry with her ex, Ash, who announced out-of-the-blue that he needed to go "find himself" in Australia and that he hoped they would still be friends. She has spent the last eight months wondering how she could have misunderstood their relationship so thoroughly and avoiding Ash's twin brother Will, who lives next door. She has known the brothers from childhood and they have been friends for years. Realising that she shouldn't lose Will's friendship because of her anger with Ash, they reignite their friendship but they soon realise their feelings may be growing into something deeper. Life gets more complicated when Ash returns and starts trying to win Robyn back. I really felt for Will who was so conflicted in his feelings between his love for his brother and his romantic feelings for Robyn.

Set in a small village, there is a cast of quirky characters who join together for Robyn's Never Have I Ever Club, which mainly involves the local pensioners getting up to mischief and making the younger folk blush! Although the club didn't feel like the main focus of the book I enjoyed the message of making sure you seize the day, especially linked with some more serious topics in the story.

I loved Robyn's aunt Felicity who is a force of nature and a lesson in how to be yourself and live life to the fullest and her best friends Freya and Eliot were fun additions to the story.

This is a hilarious romcom with fun, quirky characters and I highly recommend for light relief in this current climate. I gave this book 4 out of 5.

The Author

Mary Jayne Baker grew up in rural West Yorkshire, right in the heart of Brontë country... and she's still there. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in English Literature, she dallied with living in cities including London, Nottingham and Cambridge, but eventually came back with her own romantic hero in tow to her beloved Dales, where she first started telling stories about heroines with flaws and the men who love them.

Follow Mary:
Facebook: @MaryJayneWrites
Twitter: @MaryJayneBaker

Buy links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bRE036
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2RkFQSY
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2URi4zV

Follow Aria
Website: www.ariafiction.com
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction

You can also follow the blog tour below for more reviews and other exciting content:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Blurb

"A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really."

Review

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down. January and Gus were real, vulnerable, flawed and lovable and made we want to sit down and write my own novel.

I really enjoyed learning the history of January and Gus and what makes them tick. January is a hopeless romantic whose view of the world has recently been knocked off-kilter and she's struggling to find balance in her new world. While Augustus has had a difficult past and writes books that expose the darkest parts of humanity. Their competition sparks new creativity for both of them and between them.

The characters leapt off the page and made me laugh, swoon and root for them to find each other. I wish January's best friend Shadi could have been in the book more as she seemed awesome... maybe she'll have her own book next!

This book grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go. 5 out of 5.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy to review.

The Author

Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the now-defunct New York Center for Art & Media Studies. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

Blurb

"Mary, the bookish ugly duckling of Pride and Prejudice’s five Bennet sisters, emerges from the shadows and transforms into a desired woman with choices of her own.

What if Mary Bennet’s life took a different path from that laid out for her in Pride and Prejudice? What if the frustrated intellectual of the Bennet family, the marginalized middle daughter, the plain girl who takes refuge in her books, eventually found the fulfillment enjoyed by her prettier, more confident sisters? This is the plot of The Other Bennet Sister, a debut novel with exactly the affection and authority to satisfy Austen fans.

Ultimately, Mary’s journey is like that taken by every Austen heroine. She learns that she can only expect joy when she has accepted who she really is. She must throw off the false expectations and wrong ideas that have combined to obscure her true nature and prevented her from what makes her happy. Only when she undergoes this evolution does she have a chance at finding fulfillment; only then does she have the clarity to recognize her partner when he presents himself—and only at that moment is she genuinely worthy of love.

Mary’s destiny diverges from that of her sisters. It does not involve broad acres or landed gentry. But it does include a man; and, as in all Austen novels, Mary must decide whether he is the truly the one for her. In The Other Bennet Sister, Mary is a fully rounded character—complex, conflicted, and often uncertain; but also vulnerable, supremely sympathetic, and ultimately the protagonist of an uncommonly satisfying debut novel."

Published: March 31st 2020 by Henry Holt and Co.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, many thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

My Review

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite novels so I was intrigued and a little apprehensive to read a book which would add to the story for better or worse. However, this felt like a really valuable addition to the original adding more without taking anything away from the classic.

The story focuses on the quietest and least popular Bennet sister Mary from childhood to adulthood. I found it intriguing how the author depicted Mary's childhood and adolescence as an emotionally neglected child. Mrs Bennet is portrayed as being much more interested in her other daughters as they are all a lot prettier than Mary. This feels true to the original. Meanwhile Mr Bennet is only interested in Lizzie to Mary's disappointment. I really felt for her as she tried repeatedly to find ways to engage with Mr Bennet and be interesting to him, spending so much time in the library to try to be closer to him and felt her heartbreak when it didn't work. The only thing that felt a bit uncomfortable was that Mr Bennet who I really liked in Pride and Prejudice is almost shown to be cruel in this book which was a little disappointing.

Eventually the story moves forward past the contents of the original novel and this is where it really begins to stand strong in it's own right. Mary spends time in different households trying to find a place for herself in the world. I enjoyed seeing characters like Lizzie and Mr Darcy in their married life, and Jane with Mr Bingley. One of the most enjoyable sections of the story is spent with Mr and Mrs Collins. The author paints him in a much more sympathetic light than the original which I enjoyed.

Eventually Mary goes to stay with the lovely Mr and Mrs Gardner in London where she meets Mr Hayward. This is where Mary begins to find the love and respect that she has always craved and it was a pleasure to read about it and to see how grow into a more confident person.

I highly recommend this book for any fans of the original book as this adds a lot of depth and understanding to Mary's character. I give this 4 out of 5.

The Author

Janice Hadlow has worked at the BBC for 28 years, including more than 10 years as a top executive. She was educated at comprehensive school in Swanley, in north Kent, and graduated with a BA in history from King’s College London. She currently lives in Bath. A Royal Experiment was her first book.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

Blurb

"In the midst of war, he found love
In the midst of darkness, he found courage
In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo: what will you find from his story?

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape.

But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain.

On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.

As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - they must journey to find each other again.

Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling."

Hardcover, 400 pages
Published May 2nd 2019 by Bonnier Zaffre
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

The author paints a rich picture of life in Aleppo before war destroys it and the lives of those within it. The story focuses on Nuri and Afra, a married couple who have suffered a terrible loss, which deeply impacts both of them in ways which only become clear towards the end of the book. They don't want to leave their home but are left with no choice when their lives are at risk. I found the story of their journey from Syria across Europe harrowing and heartbreaking, both for them and the people they meet along the way.

It's difficult for someone who lives in a safe country to imagine what it would take to make someone leave everything they have ever known and potentially everyone they have ever known. This book tells just a few of those heartbreaking stories.

This is a beautifully written story about the power of compassion and hope in the face of adversity. I've given this 5 out of 5.

The Author

Christy Lefteri was born in London in 1980 to Greek Cypriot parents who moved to London in 1974 during the Turkish invasion. She completed a degree in English and a Masters in creative writing at Brunel University. She taught English to foreign students and then became a secondary school teacher before leaving to pursue a PhD and to write. She is also studying to become a psychotherapist.

Aria's Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisin

Blurb

"From the bestselling author of Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop comes another uplifting romance.

This summer will change everything!

Aria Summers knows what she wants.

A life on the road with best friend Rosie and her beloved camper-van-cum-book-shop, and definitely, definitely, no romance.

But when Aria finds herself falling – after one too many glasses of wine, from a karaoke stage – into the arms of Jonathan, a part of her comes back to life for the first time in years.

Since her beloved husband died Aria has sworn off love, unless it’s the kind you can find in the pages of a book. One love of her life is quite enough.

And so Aria tries to forget Jonathan and sets off for a summer to remember in France. But could this trip change Aria’s life forever…?"

Published April 8th 2020 by HQ Digital
With many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Aria is a very lovable character and a woman after my own heart with her love of reading and an attitude of no book left behind! She travels around in her camper van bookshop with her friend Rosie in one van supplying her with no end of delicious sounding food and Rosie's partner Max in another, being a good guy and supportive friend. I enjoyed the descriptions of their nomadic lifestyle journeying from place to place, exploring and meeting new people. This story definitely made me wish I could go on holiday to France, explore old towns and eat a lot of croissants!

Although Aria gives the impression of being happy-go-lucky and perfectly content with her single lifestyle, she doesn't tell many people that she lost her husband TJ to cancer a few years ago. The author approaches Aria's grief with great sensitivity and the story explores whether she could be ready to find love again with the lovely Jonathan, while trying to come to terms with the past.

I really enjoyed this book, it's the perfect story to read on holiday in the sunshine. I hadn't read the previous book relating to this one, 'Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop' but didn't feel left behind by the story, although I'm sure it would have been better to have read that one first to know Rosie and Max's story as well.

This is such a lovely, heartwarming read, I've given it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Author

Ashes by Christopher de Vinck

Blurb

"A deeply touching novel about two young women whose differences, which once united them, will tear them apart forever, during Hitler’s Nazi occupation of Belgium and France. Based on true events.

For fans of All The Light We Cannot See and Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Belgium, July 1939: Simone Lyon is the daughter of a Belgium national hero, the famous General Joseph Lyon. Her best friend Hava Daniels, is the eldest daughter of a devout Jewish family. Despite growing up in different worlds, they are inseparable.

But when, in the spring of 1940, Nazi planes and tanks begin bombing Brussels, their resilience and strength are tested. Hava and Simone find themselves caught in the advancing onslaught and are forced to flee.

In an emotionally-charged race for survival, even the most harrowing horrors cannot break their bonds of love and friendship. The two teenage girls, will see their innocence fall, against the ugly backdrop of a war dictating that theirs was a friendship that should never have been."

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Expected publication: May 26th 2020 by Harper Inspire
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

The story starts and we meet Simone Lyon the daughter of a Belgian national hero, who inspired his fellow soldiers to dig trenches which helped halt the Germans in the First World War. She lives a fairly privileged lifestyle and watches her father ride a white horse through the park of Brussels each week with people cheering him as he goes. When she volunteers for the day with the Red Cross she meets Hava and they instantly strike up a close friendship. The author captures the innocence of two 18 year old girls at the end of the 1930's, reading Gone With The Wind, dreaming of meeting Clark Gable, going for picnics and drawing lines up the back of their legs to pretend they're wearing stockings and trying to ignore the growing threat of war. I particularly enjoyed the glimpses into Hava's family life, with her father telling Simone Jewish stories and Hava's younger brother enlisting his sister to put on a play for Simone and their parents.

Their peace is shattered as the German army arrives and the author immerses you in the horror, fear and utter chaos of an invading army bombing a city and people trying to flee, but not sure where to go. It's terrifying and so hard to think of people going through this both then and in more recent history. The majority of the book follows Simone and Hava as they try to stay ahead of the advancing Germany army.

I couldn't put this book down, I was deeply involved in the story of Simone and Hava's friendship and the book left me heartbroken all over again by the pain and loss caused by World War II.

I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5.

Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cutugno

Blurb

"It starts before you can even remember: You learn the rules for being a girl. . . .

Marin has always been good at navigating these unspoken guidelines. A star student and editor of the school paper, she dreams of getting into Brown University. Marin’s future seems bright―and her young, charismatic English teacher, Mr. Beckett, is always quick to admire her writing and talk books with her.

But when “Bex” takes things too far and comes on to Marin, she’s shocked and horrified. Had she somehow led him on? Was it her fault?

When Marin works up the courage to tell the administration what happened, no one believes her. She’s forced to face Bex in class every day. Except now, he has an ax to grind.

But Marin isn’t about to back down. She uses the school newspaper to fight back and she starts a feminist book club at school. She finds allies in the most unexpected people, like “slutty” Gray Kendall, who she’d always dismissed as just another lacrosse bro. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and write her own rules."

Hardcover, 304 pages
Published April 7th 2020 by Balzer + Bray
With thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

The blurb above is an excellent summary of the essential parts of this story. What it doesn't tell you is how well the authors portray Marin's fear, frustration and the questions she asks herself of how this happened and how to avoid making it worse. How the authorities assume she is lying because she's young and the teacher in question happens to be young and attractive. The sense of powerlessness this gives her takes her out of her comfort zone and shapes her into a stronger person whose eyes have been opened to the world. The article she writes in the school newspaper called 'Rules for Being a Girl' affected me deeply and I wish I could quote it in full here as it is such a perceptive description of the contradictory expectations on women and how most people subconsciously subscribe to them. The article highlighted some aspects of life which I hadn't realised were problematic until I read it and seeing them side by side you realise the mixed messages which are being given to women of all ages. Here is a short quote:

"Don't be one of those girls who can't eat pizza. You're getting the milk shake too? Whoa. Have you gained weight? Don't get so skinny your curves disappear. Don't get so curvy you aren't skinny. Don't take up too much space. It's just about your health."

This is such a powerful story and exposes the wide variety of reactions that you see in social media when someone says something happened to them and the affect that those reactions have on that individual.

I can't recommend this enough as a feminist young adult book, I think every teenager in the country should read it. I hope these authors write together again! I gave it 5 out of 5.

The Authors

Candace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed, international best-selling author of Killing Monica, Sex and the City, Summer and the City, The Carrie Diaries, One Fifth Avenue, Lipstick Jungle, Trading Up, and Four Blondes. Sex and the City, published in 1996, was the basis for the HBO hit series and two subsequent blockbuster movies. Lipstick Jungle became a popular television series on NBC, as did The Carrie Diaries on the CW.

Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of messy, complicated, feminist love stories. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University.

Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, among others.

The great loves of her life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston with her husband, Tom, and her dog, Avon.