Sunday 23 May 2021

Last One At The Party

 Last One At The Party

by

Bethany Clift



Review


My kids bought me a copy of this book for Mother’s Day this year and I’m not going to lie, but when I read the blurb, I wasn’t sure it was going to be my kind of genre, but from the first page I really couldn’t put it down. 


The world has been hit by a deadly virus called 6DM and anybody who comes into contact with it will die a slow, horrible death. Except one woman (who remains nameless). 


She seemed to have it all, a loving husband, a career and her future looked bright, but looks can be deceptive and she is struggling to cope with day to day life, but nothing compares her to what is in store for her once 6DM strikes. 


This book is really quite scary in places because of what has happened to the world in the last year or so and certain similarities, but it is also so funny in parts it made my stomach hurt and then in the next breath I was wiping away the tears.


I don’t really want to give too much of the story away, but you feel you are going on a journey of survival with the character and I found myself reading late into the night to find out what happens. 


I’m still a bit mystified about the ending, but the only thing I can hope is that there is going to be a sequel because I for one will be bashing the door of the bookshop down to get a copy!


A great debut from the author and it just goes to show, you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover!



@Beth_Clift


@HodderBooks





Sunday 9 May 2021

The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club

The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club
by
Faith Hogan

It's my turn on the Blog Tour for this wonderful story of friendship, love, loss and a sense of community and you can read my review below. I truly loved this book and all the characters in it. 


 

Review

Elizabeth is the local GPs widow, but apart from grieving, she has come across crippling gambling debts racked up by her husband and it is now down to her to sort them out before she becomes homeless.

Jo is determined to help her friend Elizabeth out, even if she has to enlist her daughter Lucy who is a doctor, to come and help out in the village until Elizabeth can see light at the end of the tunnel. Lucy's son Niall comes with her but would rather be with his dad in Sydney, Australia than at a local school with other teenagers who he knows he would have nothing in common with. 

When writer Dan comes to Ballycove looking for inspiration on writing a book, little does he know that it will change his life forever. He hates living in London and he has another, more personal, reason for coming to Ballycove. Will there be anyone who is willing to tell him the truth?

What could you possibly do on a dark, cold, winter's night when you need to clear your mind? Go for a swim at midnight in the Irish sea of course! That's what Jo does every night (weather permitting) and she soon ropes Elizabeth in to joining her and when Lucy also tags along, The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club is born. Little did the ladies know that this small, exclusive club will become a lifeline not just for them, but for everyone in the village. 

A powerful story of love, loss, friendship, relationships and everything else in between...I loved it!

It is a charming read and I finished it within just a few days.  I can't wait to read more by this author.


About the author

 Faith Hogan is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of five contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women's fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.

She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!


Follow Faith:

Facebook: @faithhoganauthor

Twitter: @gerhogan

Website: www.Facebook/FaithHogan.com

 

Buy links:

 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PtPN2C

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2Pv0K3X

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3vrHN1y

Apple: https://apple.co/3sX4XuP

Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/3aNtmwL

Waterstones: https://bit.ly/32SOgWP

Easons (Ireland only): https://bit.ly/3sUxpNX

 

 

 

Follow Aria

 

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction



Tuesday 4 May 2021

 Letters to the Lost

by

Iona Grey



Review

This is a book that I have had on my TBR shelf for a few years now (I am ashamed to say!) and this year I have made it my mission to read more of the books I want to read and so, this was one of the first ones I picked up. Goodness only knows why I waited so long! 

This is a dual time line and begins in 2011 when Jess is squatting in a small terraced house that belonged to a lady called Stella Thorne. Even though she shouldn't be there, Jess keeps the place as tidy as she can and when a letter arrives marked urgent, she feels she has to open it as the house hasn't lived in for so long, what could be so important?

The letter is from an American gentleman by the name of Dan and in the letter he says he is looking for Stella and wants to catch up one last time before it's too late. 

Jess then finds a boxful of previous letters from Dan dating back to the 1940's and on reading further, she finds out that they were lovers whilst Stella was married and Dan was an American soldier based in Suffolk!

Meanwhile, Will is an heir hunter working for an employer who he despises, but when he is sent to the home of Stella Thorne to try to find out if she has any living relatives, this opens a whole new can of worms for not only him, but the lives of Stella, Dan and everybody else who was connected with them during WWII.

Wow, I love a wartime story, but this one really pulled at my heart strings and I just knew it was one that would stay with me for a long time. It is powerful and totally absorbing and a true love story that will keep you turning the pages well into the night to find out what happens to Stella and Dan.

I have now ordered the author's next book as I really can't wait to read more from her. 






Saturday 1 May 2021

A Taste of Home

 A Taste of Home

by

Heidi Swain

BLOG TOUR


I was delighted to be asked again to be a part of Heidi's blog tours and when I asked my dear friend Julie Williams if she would like to review this one, she jumped at the chance as I know how much she loves Heidi's books! You can enjoy Julie's review below.


Review by Julie Williams

What another delightful read from Heidi Swain as she transports us back to Wynbridge and its' welcoming community.

Fliss Brown is settled on a fruit farm in Italy with the Rossi family who consider Fliss one of their own, but when she discovers a letter written by her mother Jennifer, who has recently passed away, a whole new life is revealed and a new adventure awaits her at Fenview Farm on the outskirts of Wynbridge. 

On her arrival, Fliss instantly brings life, rejuvenation and happiness not only to the farm but also to her Grandad Bill who has been struggling to keep the farm going. Fliss is certainly not afraid of hard work and has plenty of ideas to put Fenview back on the map. 

Bill has some good decent friends who quickly warm to Fliss including a handsome bike rider Eliot, who's sunny nature and kindness can’t help but catch her attention.

One word of warning for this story is that there is a lot of delicious food mentioned which had my mouth watering throughout; I could almost taste both the Italian and English delights – yummy!

A Taste of Home can be read as a standalone, but I would urge you to read the others as Wynbridge has the most wonderful characters and great locations.

My thanks to Net Galley and publishers for the digital ARC and to Julie who asked me if I wanted to be a guest reviewer for the blog tour as she knows how much I enjoy Heidi’s books.


@Heidi_Swain

@harriett_col

@simonschusterPR

@TeamBATC

@BookMinxSJV