BOOK REVIEW: A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde

Love is in the air in the latest book from cult romance novelist Katie Fforde. 

Gilly proudly runs her own B&B, until she meets a handsome estate agent called Leo who makes her wonder if the time has come to sell up. 

Meanwhile, her daughter Helena has a budding romance of her own… with spring approaching and the season of new beginnings, could their new loves lead to their happily ever after? Publisher: Century

I have lost count of how many wonderful books Katie Fforde has written but I am always very excited when her latest one arrives.

A Springtime Affair has two central female characters, Gilly and her daughter Helena. Gilly is divorced and runs her own B&B from her beloved family home. Helena is a talented weaver and is currently living in her landlords spare room until she can find a better home for her and her loom. It helps that Jago, her landlord, is extremely attractive and very kind. Gilly has her own romantic interests too, the charismatic Leo wants to sweep her off her feet but whilst it’s extremely flattering, she’s not completely sure that she wants to be swept anywhere. 

The dynamic between Gilly and Helena is wonderful. The mother-daughter relationship can be tense and fraught and I think Katie Fforde does an excellent job of showing the battle for both parent and child when in adulthood of being protective but not overbearing or interfering. Gilly and Helena want the best for each other but they are both grown women who need to make their own decisions and mistakes. 

My favourite part of the book was the relationship that develops between Helena and Jago. It is very sincere and loving, you can see how right they are for each other. Katie Fforde throws in a corker of a twist towards the end though which I did not see coming. 

You always know you are in for a great story with Katie Fforde’s books and A Springtime Affair is bound to delight readers. I’m so pleased that she chose to explore the mother-daughter dynamic within this book as I very much enjoyed this aspect.

I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to Century for sending me a gifted copy of this book for review. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

In a large house in London’s fashionable Chelsea, a baby is awake in her cot.In the kitchen lie three decomposing corpses.They’ve been dead for several days. Who has been looking after the baby?And where did they go?

Publisher: Century

Pages: 451

Lisa Jewell was one of my favourite authors when I was younger, I would buy her new books immediately and they are still on my bookshelves to this day. When she switched genre to psychological thrillers I really wasn’t sure if I should read them. However, the lovely people at Century kindly sent me The Family Upstairs and I couldn’t resist. The problem is that it is fantastic so now I am going to have to buy all her other thrillers. 

The book focuses on Libby Jones, on her 25th birthday she discovers that she has inherited a mansion in Chelsea. She then discovers that her birth parents bodies were discovered there. She was alive and well in her cot upstairs but her older brother and sister had vanished. 

Libby’s life has changed forever, she can sell the house and bank a huge amount of money but what she really wants is the truth. What happened to her parents? Who looked after her for the few days before the police discovered the decomposing bodies?

The Family Upstairs is a fantastic thriller, I could not put it down and flew through the pages. I do enjoy this genre but I sometimes find the characters a bit flat. However, Lisa Jewell delivers believable and interesting characters, they are not merely there to move the plot along. 

Jewell packs a lot in, deception, cults, domestic abuse, sexuality, growing up, religion, love and so much more. At first the events in the book seem a little far-fetched but Jewell flits between the past and the presents, gradually showing how the situation got out of control in a terrifyingly easy manner. 

Jewell keeps you in suspense for the majority of the book, there are so many brilliant twists and turns. I had to re-read one chapter more than once as I really didn't predict the plot twist coming and I love it when an author is able to shock you in that way.

This is one of the best books I have read this year, go and get a copy.

Many thanks to Century for kindly gifting me a copy of the book to review. 

BOOK REVIEW: Our Kind of Cruelty by Amarinta Hall

Mike understands that most of us travel through the world as one half of a whole, desperately searching for that missing person to make us complete.
But he and Verity are very different. They have found each other and nothing and no one will tear them apart. It doesn’t matter that Verity is marrying another man.
It’s all just part of a plan: you see, Verity and Mike play a game together, a secret game they call ‘the crave’, the aim being to demonstrate what they both know: that Verity needs Mike, and only Mike. Verity’s upcoming marriage is the biggest game she and Mike have ever played. And it’s for the highest stakes.
Except this time, in order for Mike and Verity to be together someone has to die…

Publisher: Century

Pages: 351

The only other book I have read by Amarinta Hall is her novel Dot which was published in 2013. Our Kind of Cruelty has a very different feel and I thought it was fantastic. It is a dark, twisted, psychological thriller which raises many relevant questions about women and sexuality.

Mike and Verity play a game called ‘The Crave’ where Verity will wait to be approached by another man while Mike watches, he will them come over and break it up, claiming Verity as his own. It gives them both a sexual thrill and it’s a game they have been playing for years. But now, Verity is getting married and Mike is n

ot the potential groom. Surely this is the biggest version of the crave they have ever played? The stakes are high but who is really in control of the game?

I devoured this book in a single day, I just couldn’t stop reading. I love the way Araminta Hall set the story up, the reader is aware of the game from the very beginning and then she gradually reveals more about Mike and Verity. The plot and writing are tantalising and dangerous. I was very impressed with how the author keeps you guessing to the very last page.

Our Kind of Cruelty looks at women and their sexuality which feels very relevant considering the Times Up campaign etc. Araminta Hall highlights how it is often seen as acceptable for men to explore their sexual needs and likes but it is still frowned upon for a woman to do the same. Verity is ashamed of the games her and Mike have played and people’s reaction to her involvement is very different to how they treat Mike’s role in it all.

I am so impressed by this book, Araminta Hall has written an obsessive, dark and addictive psychological thriller. I can highly recommend Our Kind of Cruelty.

Many thanks to Century Books for sending me a copy to review.

BOOK REVIEW: The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd

You love him. You trust him. So why are you so scared?
Her obsession started eighteen years after the first documentary… As the story unfolded on screen everything else started to fade away. At the heart of it the boy, too young for the suit he wore in court, blue eyes blinking, confused at the camera, alone and afraid. It hurt her to look at him…barely eighteen years old, alone on Death Row.
You’re in love with a man serving time for a brutal murder on Florida’s Death Row. He’s the subject of a true-crime documentary that’s whipping up  a frenzy online.
You’re convinced he’s innocent, and you’re determined to prove it. You leave your old life behind.
Now you’re married to him. And he’s free, his conviction overturned. But is he so innocent after all?
How do you confront your husband when you don’t want to know the truth?

Publisher: Century

Pages: 377

The Innocent Wife is Amy Lloyd’s debut novel; she was the winner out of 5000 entries for a national novel writing competition. The Innocent Wife shows Amy’s talent and she will clearly be an interesting new voice in this genre.   

Sam first hears about the case of Dennis Danson from her now ex-boyfriend Mark. He shows her a true-crime documentary showing how Dennis was sentenced to the death penalty for the brutal murder of one teenage girl and the disappearance of several others. Just eighteen at the time, Dennis has spent many years on Death Row protesting his innocence and highlighting how little evidence there was. Sam becomes obsessed with Dennis; she begins writing him letters and then leaves her life behind to travel to Florida to meet him in person. Everything moves very quickly, suddenly they are married and Dennis is free which is exactly what Sam wanted but what if your husband doesn’t seem as innocent anymore? What happens if you have made a huge mistake?

If you are a fan of shows such as Making a Murderer then this book is for you. We have all read true-life accounts of women who have married men on death row. Completely sure of their innocence and determined to be part of their life. Amy Lloyd explores this through her character of Sam; she’s very normal, works as a teacher, nothing too extraordinary in her past yet she pursues Dennis and gives up everything for him.

I really enjoyed the way Amy Lloyd interspersed the story-telling with transcripts from interviews, police statements and newspaper articles. It gave the book a realistic edge and provides the reader with a chance to build up their own gradual picture of events. I felt there was a small lull about half way through but I’m so glad that I stuck with it as Amy Lloyd ramps up the pace in the final third of the book, throwing in several plot twists to keep you guessing.

I think The Innocent Wife is an assured and thrilling debut, Amy Lloyd is one to watch out for.

A Country Escape by Katie Fforde

Fran has always wanted to be a farmer. And now it looks as though her childhood dream is about to come true. She has just moved into a beautiful but very run-down farm in the Cotswolds, currently owned by an aunt who has told Fran that if she manages to turn the place around in a year, the farm will be hers.

But Fran knows nothing about farming. She might even be afraid of cows.

She’s going to need a lot of help from her best friend Issi, and also from her wealthy and very eligible neighbour who might just have his own reasons for being so supportive. Is it the farm he is interested in? Or Fran herself?

Publisher: Century

22^nd Feb

A Country Escape by Katie Fforde is a lovely read. I’ve read a fair few of Katie’s books but not for a while, reading this one reminded me of just how good she is!

Fran is working as a chef in London when she is given the opportunity to take over her Great Aunty Amy’s farm and if she can turn the farm’s fortunes around in 12 months then Amy will ensure that Fran will inherit it. Fran knows absolutely nothing about farming and she has a small fear of cows but she is determined to make a go of it. After spending just a short time on the farm with her best friend Issie, she completely falls in love with country life and she wants the farm to succeed and continue more than anything. Yet she has so many obstacles to overcome; at the moment the farm is in debt so Fran needs to come up with a plan that will produce a long-term income but that is easier said than done. Plus she has caught the eye of Anthony Arlingham, the highly attractive and eligible next door neighbour. He goes out of his way to help Fran but Aunt Amy has insisted that he should not be trusted as he only wants to get his hands on the farm, who should Amy believe?

A Country Escape is witty, warm and very romantic. I liked Fran as a character and it was highly entertaining watching her get to grips with the farm. Katie Fforde’s writing is quite comforting and I found it such a lovely book to curl up on the sofa with, don’t miss out on this one!

Many thanks to Century for sending me a copy of the book to review. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Bone Field by Simon Kernick

I have to apologise for missing my stop on the blog tour on Monday, I have no idea how I forgot so the publisher's have kindly said that I can post it today! I really enjoyed this book, here's my review:

When the bones of a 21-year-old Kitty Sinn are discovered after her disappearance in Thailand in 1990, an enduring mystery takes on a whole new twist. Her boyfriend at the time, and the man who reported her missing, comes forward with his lawyer to confess to DI Ray Mason, of the Met's Homicide Command, that he knows what happened to Kitty, and who killed her.
So begins a hunt for the truth that will focus on a ruthless crime gang, a rich dysfunctional family with a terrible past, and a highly ambitious man so cruel and ruthless that he must be brought down at any cost. 

Publisher: Century

The Bone Field by Simon Kernick is fantastic. I have never read anything by this author but I am now working my way through his back catalogue and eagerly awaiting the next book in this new series. 

DI Ray Mason is investigating the case of Kitty Sinn, she disappeared, aged 21 in Thailand in 1996, but her remains have just been dug up in the grounds of a private English boarding school. DI Mason starts investigating the only lead her has but this soon ends in terror and bloodshed. Mason quickly realises that Kitty Sinn's murder is part of a much bigger and completely terrifying picture. Mason and his colleagues link Kitty's murder to a notorious and seemingly untouchable crime gang. As soon as Mason makes the link, he knows he is in danger but how do you stop a gang of people who have links in high places and no intention of stopping their evil campaign?

Simon Kernick's writing style is brilliant and so enjoyable. I instantly liked Ray Mason and it will be good to learn more about him as the series progresses. He is driven entirely by his principles and the desire to help people who are in trouble. Once he has made a promise, he keeps it, despite they problems that may cause him. 

The pace of the book is thrilling, I loved trying to piece it all together but the author was one step ahead the whole way. 

The Bone Field by Simon Kernick is dark, thrilling and totally addictive, do not miss it. 

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! 

Book Review: The Making Of Us by Lisa Jewell

In a hospice in Bury St Edmunds, a man called Daniel is slowly fading away. His friend Maggie sits with him everyday; she holds his hand and she listens to the story of his life, to his regrets and to his secrets. And then he tells her about the children he has never met and never will, conceived with women he never even touched. Four of them, apparently, two boys, two girls. His legacy, he calls them.

Lydia, Robyn and Dean don't know each other. Yet. And they are all facing difficult challenges. Lydia is still wearing the scars from her traumatic childhood and although she is wealthy and successful, her life is lonely and disjointed. Dean is a young man whose life is going nowhere. Robyn is training to be a doctor, just like her father- a man she's never met. When she falls in love with a man who is like her in every way, she needs to be sure. It's time for her to open the envelope her mother gave her on her eighteenth birthday.

And Daniel's children slowly find their way into each other's lives...

I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan and have loved all of her books so you can imagine how excited I was to receive a review copy of her latest one. I was a little worried when it arrived though as it had a quote on the back from The Bookseller saying that Lisa Jewell had moved into David Nicholl's territory. Don't get me wrong, I loved One Day by David Nicholls but I feel that Lisa Jewell has a very particular writing style and I was worried that this would have disappeared. I shouldn't have got so stressed though as this book is fabulous and the writer's poignant and witty style was better than ever.
The idea behind the book is just brilliant and Lisa Jewell showed how much research she had done by it all being completely believable and realistic.
I fell in love with all of the characters, Daniel, Lydia, Dean and Robyn. It was almost like getting four books for the price of one as they all have their own stories and backgrounds and I loved getting to know them all.
Lydia is extremely successful and still very young. She is adapting to the new wealth and lifestyle that her success has given her but she still has many questions from the past. She receives an envelope from an anonymous sender and learns that her father was a sperm donor rather than the man who had brought her up. Rather than feeling anger or sadness, it seems that Lydia is almost relieved as it makes certain parts of her past make sense, almost like a weight has been lifted.
Dean is younger than Lydia and has known the true identity of his father for three years. His life is all over the place and he is pushing away everybody that cares for him. A tiny part of him wonders what his siblings are like, are they in as much of a mess as him or would they hold some answers to him sorting his life out?
Robyn is the youngest at 18 and has always know about her father. She is training to be a doctor, the same as her father. On her eighteenth, Robyn's loving parents give her all the information she needs to make contact with her siblings and her real father. At first she is reluctant but then she realises the importance of meeting these people; by knowing them then maybe she will understand a little more about herself.
Daniel is the man who ties these children together, a man they have never met and a man who is running out of time. After revealing his life-long secret to his new friend Maggie, she sets out to find his children and bring them to him before it is too late.
The Making Of Us is a beautiful, poignant book. As I said, I fell in love with each character and only wanted the best for them all. Lisa Jewell has the incredible knack of telling it like it is, she does not give you a happy ending just for the sake of it. The way in which she brought the characters together was brilliant and very realistic. I was really moved by the individual stories of the characters and the ways in which they fitted together as though they had always felt that something was missing.
I urge you to read The Making Of Us and any of Lisa Jewell's other books. She is a fantastic author whose writing I never tire of.

Many thanks to Century for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Making Of Us is published on May 12th.

If you want to find out more about Lisa Jewell then head over to her facebook page by clicking here.

Book Review: Love Letters by Katie Fforde

With the bookshop where she works about to close, Laura Horsley, in a moment of uncharacteristic recklessness, finds herself agreeing to help organise a literary festival deep in the heart of the English countryside. But her initial excitement is rapidly followed by a mounting sense of panic when reality sinks in and she realises just how much work is involved- especially when an innocent mistake leads the festival committee to believe that Laura is a personal friend of the author at the top of their wish-list. Laura might have been secretly infatuated with the infamous Dermot Flyn ever since she studied him at university, but travelling to Ireland to persuade the notorious recluse to come out of hiding is another matter.
Determined to rise to the challenge, she sets off to meet her literary hero. But all too soon she's confronted with more than she bargained for- Dermot the man is maddening, temperamental, and up to his ears in a nasty case of writers block. But he's also infuriatingly attractive- and apparently, out to add Laura to his list of conquests.

Katie Fforde has written the perfect book to sit and enjoy in the sunshine we are having at the moment. I found the aspects of the book that dealt with the publishing industry the most interesting. Katie Fforde's own experience with literary agents and editors allows her to write about the publishing world with great wit and confidence.
It took me a long time to warm to Laura, I felt as though I wanted to give her a good shake every now and again and tell her to get a grip! Dermot Flyn on the other hand was a completely different story. He is a very charming character but he does not lack substance in any way. Katie Fforde shows the pressures placed on an author for their future work when their last book was a roaring success.
Love Letters is a really good read that I would highly recommend.

Book Review: After the Party by Lisa Jewell

I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan and have read all of her books so you can imagine how happy I was to discover that she was writing a sequel to her best-seller, Ralph's Party.
After the Party joins Ralph and Jem eleven years after they got together. Everyone who knows them looks on their relationship as perfect and everlasting. However, Ralph and Jem now have two young children, a house in suburbia and fond memories of the care-free existence they once had. Ralph still loves Jem but he knows he is no longer her priority and Jem is beginning to wonder who she is outside of her 'mother' role. So they are both struggling to get back to each other and secure the future they believed they would always have.
Out of all of Lisa Jewell's books, I think this one is the darkest. I found this really refreshing; she strips back Jem and Ralph's relationship and shows the problems they are experiencing. The story is written from both of their perspectives as they try to make sense of what is going wrong.
There were certain points in the book where I disliked both Jem and Ralph but again I think that this emphasises how real relationships work. Couples do annoy each other and row; you have to make the decision as to whether the love you feel for the other person is worth putting up with their negative traits.
As usual, I was totally absorbed in Lisa Jewell's writing style and the story she was telling. It is quite a long book but I was swept along with it and had finished in two days. If you have already read Ralph's Party then great but it is not a necessity. Lisa Jewell provides enough information for the reader to understand Ralph and Jem's past without being bored by it. I could not recommend this book enough, it is a realistic take on modern relationships without the sugar coating that some authors seem to go for.