Tag: RATED 5/5

Life or Death by Michael Robotham

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Synopsis: Why would a man escape from prison the day before he’s due to be released?

Audie Palmer has spent a decade in prison for an armed robbery in which four people died, including two of the gang. Seven million dollars has never been recovered and everybody believes that Audie knows where the money is.

For ten years he has been beaten, stabbed, throttled and threatened almost daily by prison guards, inmates and criminal gangs, who all want to answer this same question, but suddenly Audie vanishes, the day before he’s due to be released.

Everybody wants to find Audie, but he’s not running. Instead he’s trying to save a life . . . and not just his own.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Wow. First off I have to admit were it not for a Guest Reviewer I would never have known about Michael Robotham. Having never read any of his work I was looking forward to reading another new author. The synopsis sounded fantastic and to be honest the only criticism I have is that the cover does not do the book justice. If I walked past this in a bookshop I wouldn’t even pick it up. Aside from that there is little to grumble about.

Audie Palmer is a quiet and unassuming bloke; the only difference is that he decides to break out of prison one day before he was due to be released.  There are additional characters that play just as much a part in this book including Audie’s prison friend Moss and Special Agent Desiree Furness. All three of them are fabulous characters to read and they really make you connect with the story all the more.

There are so many questions surrounding Audie, and why he ended up inside. The story is told by peeling back layers very slowly, all the while giving the readers snippets of information from secondary threads of the story. I read 50% of the book in one go and found myself using every available opportunity to continue reading after that. Towards the ¾ mark I thought I had it worked out, and then promptly realised I was all wrong!

This book truly had me gripped from the very beginning to the very end and I was sad that I had finished it. I would highly recommend this book and have already lined up the next Robotham. He has also written a series of books featuring Joe O’Loughlin, and the 8th in this series was released in July 2015. I know what’s next on the ‘to-read’ list! Fantastic!

The Secret By The Lake by Louise Douglas

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Synopsis: A FAMILY TRAGEDY

Amy’s always felt like something’s been missing in her life. When a tragedy forces the family she works for as a nanny to retreat to a small lakeside cottage, she realises she cannot leave them now.

A SISTER’S SECRET

But Amy finds something unsettling about the cottage by the lake. This is where the children’s mother spent her childhood – and the place where her sister disappeared mysteriously at just seventeen.

A WEB OF LIES

Soon Amy becomes tangled in the missing sister’s story as dark truths begin rising to the surface. But can Amy unlock the secrets of the past before they repeat themselves?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “The Secret By The Lake by Louise Douglas”

Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham

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Synopsis: I close my eyes and feel my heart begin racing

Someone is coming

They’re going to find me

A mother and her teenage daughter are found murdered in a remote farmhouse, one defiled by multiple stab wounds and the other left lying like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince. Reluctantly, clinical psychologist Joe O’Loughlin is drawn into the investigation when a former student, calling himself ‘the Mindhunter’, jeopardises the police inquiry by leaking details to the media and stirring up public anger.

With no shortage of suspects and tempers beginning to fray, Joe discover links between these murders and a series of brutal attacks where his victims have been choked unconscious and had the letter ‘A’ carved into their foreheads.

As the case becomes ever more complex, nothing is quite what it seems and soon Joe’s fate, and that of those closest to him, become intertwined with a merciless, unpredictable killer . . .

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I am becoming quite the ‘Robotham’ fan I must say. The last book I read of his was also my first (Life and Death) but I loved it so much I really wanted to make a start on this one. Close Your Eyes was released earlier this year and the synopsis sounded great. What I didn’t realise was that I was hitting a series of books featuring Joe O’Loughlin at this release which was number 8. Thankfully, you can get away with reading this as a standalone, but I was devastated to realise I had missed the previous 7.

Joe is a Clinical Psychologist, who suffers from Parkinsons. He is reluctantly brought into a police investigation because of a former student of his, that is intent on using Joe’s name to get him involved with the latest case.  We also meet his ex-wife Julianne and children Charlie and Emma. What seems like a straightforward double murder, throws up more suspects than you could imagine and that adds to the general intrigue of the story.

The other element of the story I liked was his old friend, ex-policeman, Vincent. Both of them are re-working the case and there are multiple threads that are picked up and then worked on even more as the suspect list grows, as does the reasoning behind them. The murder victims Elizabeth and Harper Crowe open up a literal can of worms as their lives are broken down to enable Joe to get to the bottom of who would want them both dead.

This book was a real ‘whodunnit’ and had the added element of a cracking lead character and absolutely brilliant additional characters. Although I haven’t read the rest in the series, this made me want to immediately catch up with the back catalogue. The ending was also a shock and one that left me feeling that I really needed to read the next one to see what happens next for Joe. I am amazed I have left it this long to read a Michael Robotham, but I will ensure that all future releases are top of the list!

One Wish in Manhattan by Mandy Baggott

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Synopsis: The temperature is dropping, snow is on its way and Hayley Walker is heading for New York with one wish … to start over. 

With her daughter Angel, Hayley is ready for adventure. But there’s more to New York than twinkly lights and breathtaking skyscrapers. Angel has her own Christmas wish – to find her real dad. 

While Hayley tries to fulfil her daughter’s wish, she crosses paths with billionaire Oliver Drummond. Restless and bored with fast living, there’s something intriguing about him that has Hayley hooked. 

Can Hayley dare to think her own dreams might come true – could A New York Christmas turn into a New York Forever? 

Travel to the Big Apple this Christmas and join Hayley and Oliver as they realise life isn’t just about filling the minutes … it’s about making every moment count.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review:  Oh my…..I think that because it’s the lead up to Christmas I am going crazy with the Christmas themed books and this one is no exception. I apologise to those die hard Crime, Thriller & Mystery fans, but a girl needs a break from all that! Very recently I have had the absolute pleasure of reading many Bookouture authors and it seems they have a theme going on…it’s called signing awesome authors! Having fallen in love most recently with the likes of Holly Martin and Jenny Hale as well as longer standing authors like Sue Watson it seems I can add another Bookouture author to that must read list with Mandy Baggot.

The Christmas themed cover is one of many being released in the run up to Christmas, but I must say I really like these covers and although they are ‘christmassy’ they are also pretty eye catching. The main character is this book is Hayley Walker along with her daughter Angel. Now don’t get me wrong I really liked Hayley but her daughter Angel totally stole the show. She was a funny and endearing child who has a never ending supply of information that you never knew. When Hayley and Angel visit Hayley’s brother in New York, neither of them have any idea of how their Christmas will turn out.

Hayley’s brother Dean works for the big global company and his boss Oliver Drummond has something of a reputation. Oliver was instantly likeable but as his personal story unfolds some of his behaviour starts to make more sense. Nearly all of the characters in this book have been constructed so well you feel like you know them, and the fact that certain situations are far from believable in the sense of the normal everyday life…I didn’t care. Not one bit! There were many funny moments in this book as we see Hayley trying to secure some part time work (albeit illegally), as well as find Angel’s father who isn’t even aware of Angel’s existence. Although Hayley and Angel are the main stars, Oliver and his friend Tony also made for brilliant reading. A New York Billionaire and his best friend Tony as they make their way from club to bar, picking up as many women as they can.

The story has a very magical feel to it and certainly puts you in the mood for Christmas. This was a totally and utterly enchanting and magical read that will steal a little bit of your heart. This was my first Mandy Baggot but most certainly won’t be my last. An addictive and feel good romance that is food for the Book Geek’s soul!

Fighting For Survival by Mel Sherratt (Estate #3)

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Synopsis: When Caren Williams finds herself back on the estate she fought so hard to get away from, little does she realise she’ll be living opposite her arch-enemy, Gina Bradley. Gina thinks she and her family rule Stanley Avenue so when Caren starts to become popular, she decides to hit her where it will hurt the most – she wants her husband. Lonely and depressed, Ruth Millington turns to drinking and self-harm to get her through the dark times but finds it’s a constant struggle. Spiralling out of control, maybe she should let Gina’s husband help her out when he comes calling. Twins, Rachel and Claire Bradley, took control of the girl-gang, the Mitchell Mob, when their leader was sent to a juvenile detention centre for assault. But Stacey Hunter is out now and wants to hold the position again. No one will back down – let battle commence. Brawling in the street, fighting on the square and conforming to peer pressure – it all comes down to holding your nerve. But this time not everyone will stay alive on the notorious Stanley Avenue…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Fighting For Survival by Mel Sherratt (Estate #3)”

Bella’s Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson

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Synopsis: Bella Bradley is the queen of television baking – a national treasure. Her Christmas specials have been topping the ratings for years and her marriage to Peter ‘Silver Fox’ Bradley is the stuff of Hello magazine specials. But this year things are going to be different. 

For Amy Lane, Bella’s best friend from school, life hasn’t held quite the same sparkle. And when Amy’s husband walks out three weeks from Christmas, it seems their lives are further apart than ever. 

Amy has watched Bella’s rise to fame fondly, despite the fact Bella was always a terrible cook. But when she realises that Bella’s latest Christmas book is made up entirely of Amy’s mother’s recipes, the gloves are off. After winning a competition to appear on Bella’s TV show, Amy is going to make sure that for Bella and her viewers, this will definitely be a Christmas to remember… 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Thankfully, I have my Sue Watson fix under control with her latest release Bella’s Bake Off. SW covers are as always incredibly enticing and since the Great British Bake Off has now finished for 2015, this was a perfect solution now I no longer had any left to watch. The book doesn’t wait to launch into Sue’s comedic patter between characters and launches straight into a very funny scene featuring Amy Lane and her husband. Within a matter of pages I was (as usual with these books) laughing my socks off and immediately fell in love with the slightly crazy Amy. The thing is it soon becomes apparent Amy Lane is far from crazy. She is the sort of character you can empathise with; you just know full well that one of your friends fits the bill for Amy’s life.

Amy spends her lead up to Christmas watching Bella Bradley, who is the queen of Television baking. She appears to have absolutely everything with her high flying career and amazingly gorgeous husband. The thing is Amy and Bella were best friends all the way through their childhood. It becomes clear from the beginning that Sue is giving nothing away that easy about why they stopped speaking but slowly and surely things start to unravel and make sense to the reader. When Amy decides to enter a competition to appear on Bella’s show you just know there are high jinks ahead.

When Amy finally makes it to Bella’s TV show the book goes from being brilliant to being AMAZING. Sue Watson has such a knack for the humorous side of characters and she is an author I have fallen a little bit in love with from very early on. Her humour, writing style and stories never fail to hit the spot and are guaranteed to cheer me up, make me laugh and generally improve my mood. Sue has once again swept me off my feet with the characters, although my first love (her book Love, Lies and Lemon Cakes) will always remain my all-time favourite. Please don’t look for any hidden meanings, secret morals or anything that you take away and seriously debate. However, if you want a book to make you laugh you’re a*se off and cheer you up then Sue Watson needs to be top of your list!

Snowflakes on Silver Cove by Holly Martin (White Cliff Bay #2)

Synopsis: Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself… 

Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance. 

As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George. 

But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas? 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Snowflakes on Silver Cove by Holly Martin (White Cliff Bay #2)”

A Parcel for Anna Brown by Miranda Dickinson

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Synopsis: Anna Browne is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her day job as a receptionist in bustling London isn’t exactly her dream, yet she has everything she wants. But someone thinks Anna Browne deserves more . . .

When a parcel addressed to Anna Browne arrives, she has no idea who has sent it. Inside she finds a beautiful gift – one that is designed to be seen. And so begins a series of incredible deliveries, each one bringing Anna further out of the shadows and encouraging her to become the woman she was destined to be. As Anna grows in confidence, others begin to notice her – and her life starts to change.

But who is sending the mysterious gifts, and why?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: If I’m being 100% honest the synopsis for this book didn’t exactly set the world on fire. I would even go as far as to say it sounded rather mediocre for a Miranda Dickinson book. Thankfully, I’m a complete idiot and the book not only proved how wrong I could be, it literally proved that some things are too hard to resist! Read in a day from cover to cover I just didn’t want to stop reading this one. Having read and enjoyed a few of MD’s other books I was looking forward to this one. Anna Brown the main lady is a normal woman, with a normal life and a very average job. I worried when I started reading that I just wasn’t going to like her. When a parcel turns up for her, she has no idea that this little thing would change everything, and not just for her.

After a few chapters I realised that Anna Browne was a lot more that it outwardly appeared. With an endearing personality you can’t help rooting for her from the very early days. The reason I make this point is that I wasn’t rooting for her because she was a ‘poor me’ type. No, it was quite the opposite. She was just a really likeable character who had blinkers on when it came to herself. HJer job as a receptionist was made so much more interesting with the brilliant characters surrounding her such as the Security Guard Ted (who was just outstanding in my opinion) and colleague Sheneice.

In addition to receiving not one but numerous parcels, Anna finds herself getting more involved with the Newspaper Company where she works which makes her look at things in a whole new light. In addition to the ladies we have the male characters Ben and Jonah both of whom are very readable. To say any more would ruin the story but there was definitely something magical about this and the mysterious parcels that Anna receives. I have to be honest and say this is possibly my favourite book of Miranda’s so far. This really is a book to be enjoyed, preferably with a roaring fire and a large glass of wine.

Christmas Gifts At The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond

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Synopsis: With her Cornish Beach Café closed for the winter, Evie Flynn should be looking forward to lazy days and a happy Christmas, with nothing more pressing to think about than when to have her next mince pie.

But her sister Ruth is coming to stay, in a cloud of heartbreak and bitterness following her marriage breakdown, along with her three unhappy children, and Evie knows she’ll have her work cut out, trying to spread some festive cheer. Then her boyfriend Ed breaks the news that he’s going to spend Christmas in London, for family reasons, and her heart sinks even further.

Add in to the mix a lost dog plus the hotly contested village Christmas bake-off and before long, Evie is feeling the strain. But there are still a few surprises in store for her, that look set to make this Beach Café Christmas the most memorable one yet…

*Note: If you plan to read The Beach Café first followed by Christmas at The Beach Café, please do not continue to read my review as it will inevitably contain spoilers*

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I very recently read Christmas at The Beach Café which was a novella follow on to her novel The Beach Café. I loved the second novella (unusual for me as I’m not keen on shorts) and was so pleased when I realised Lucy had another Novella. This one is set the following Christmas and is just as good as the last novella. All this succeeded in doing was making me realise that Lucy Diamond needs to write quicker and luckily for me I still have 2 full length novels (her latest 2) all ready to read on my Kindle…yay!

This latest Christmas novella we see Evie’s sister Ruth and her children come to Evie for Christmas following a messy divorce. In addition Ed is dealing with the loss of his Dad. This offering is short but very sweet, and giving us THE best set up for the next book (at least I hope there is a next one!). We see brief glimpses of a couple of villagers, and we also see Ed’s Mum make an appearance. There isn’t one character I dislike in these books and just can’t wait to see them all again.

Yes it’s only 90 pages, and yes it’s a novella, but….it’s brilliant! Another cracking read and I can’t wait to gets started on another Lucy Diamond book!

Christmas At The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond

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Synopsis: A Christmas short story from bestselling author Lucy Diamond, revisiting her Beach Café characters.

After a hectic summer running her beach café in Cornwall, Evie Flynn is looking forward to her first Christmas with new boyfriend Ed – she’s determined that it’s going to be the most perfectly romantic one ever. Cosy nights in front of the fire, spicy mulled wine, mince pies . . . what’s not to love?

But the peace is shattered when Ed’s ex suddenly gets in touch again, and then some unexpected guests arrive: Ed’s surly brother Jake and Evie’s heartbroken best friend Amber. Add in the stress of trying to finish her very own recipe book, snow blizzards and family dramas and Evie’s Christmas starts to look as if it’ll be a total turkey. Will any of her festive wishes come true . . . or is this Christmas just a recipe for disaster?

*Note: If you plan to read The Beach Café first please do not continue to read my review as it will inevitably contain spoilers*

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Just recently I have been ploughing through all my novella’s and short stories, as they are never my first choice. Although I say that and it’s usually the case, this novella was absolutely wonderful. It didn’t take me long to get reacquainted with Evie in her beautiful café in Cornwall. This will be her first Christmas there and now she has her boyfriend Ed around the excitement gets to her.

Evie is a funny character and one that you fall in love with quite easily. In this latest short story her ideal Christmas is planned out in her head. Evie and Ed, all alone in front of that log fire, except her Christmas is going to turn out far from what she imagined. We meet Ed’s brother Jake, Evie’s friend Amber as well as half the people living in Evie’s village.

The story is witty, warm and full of magic. Although it’s only 100 pages long it makes me realise how much I love Lucy Diamond books. I am so pleased she has since released another Beach Café ‘Christmas’ Novella so I know what I will be reading shortly. Absolutely loved this!