Tropical Girl Reads

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz – ARC Book Review

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz: A totally gripping and absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 page-turner, based on a true story by [Ellie Midwood]

“We must die standing up for something.”
“And what are we standing up for?”
“The most important thing there is. Freedom.”

Millions of people walked through Auschwitz’s gates, but she was the first woman who escaped. This powerful novel tells the inspiring true story of Mala Zimetbaum, whose heroism will never be forgotten, and whose fate altered the course of history…

Nobody leaves Auschwitz alive.

Mala, inmate 19880, understood that the moment she stepped off the cattle train into the depths of hell. As an interpreter for the SS, she uses her position to save as many lives as she can, smuggling scraps of bread to those desperate with hunger.

Edward, inmate 531, is a camp veteran and a political prisoner. Though he looks like everyone else, with a shaved head and striped uniform, he’s a fighter in the underground Resistance. And he has an escape plan.

They are locked up for no other sin than simply existing. But when they meet, the dark shadow of Auschwitz is lit by a glimmer of hope. Edward makes Mala believe in the impossible. That despite being surrounded by electric wire, machine guns topping endless watchtowers and searchlights roaming the ground, they will leave this death camp.

A promise is made––they will escape together or they will die together. What follows is one of the greatest love stories in history…

No. of pages:- 359 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on March 9th 2021

Genre:- Historical

A beautiful touching story, based on the real life story of Mala Zimetbaum, a Belgian Jew and Polish prisoner Edek and their romantic love story. Written by the same author who wrote the Violinist of Auschwitz, this story is touching and the ending was so emotional and tear breaking that I actually cried at the end. The writing was really good, touching and the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. What makes it more emotional is the fact that the characters as well as the plot of the story was real and that these horrors did happen in real life more than seventy years ago.

A dramatic story, emotional and heartbreaking story about a brave and courageous couple–a Jew and a Pole who would overcome any hardship to get what they want–freedom–worth five stars!

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Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, “The Girl from Berlin.” Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Books Waiting to Read in March

Hey all!

Here are the books I am waiting for it to get published next month!!!

The Dating Plan by Sarah Desai

Even with a step-by-step plan, these fake fiances might accidentally fall for each other in this hilarious, heartfeltromantic comedy from the author of The Marriage Game.

Daisy Patel is a software engineer who understands lists and logic better than bosses and boyfriends. With her life all planned out, and no interest in love, the one thing she can’t give her family is the marriage they expect. Left with few options, she asks her childhood crush to be her decoy fiance.

Liam Murphy is a venture capitalist with something to prove. When he learns that his inheritance is contingent on being married, he realizes his best friend’s little sister has the perfect solution to his problem. A marriage of convenience will get Daisy’s matchmaking relatives off her back and fulfill the terms of his late grandfather’s will. If only he hadn’t broken her tender teenage heart nine years ago…

Sparks fly when Daisy and Liam go on a series of dates to legitimize their fake relationship. Too late, they realize that very little is convenient about their arrangement. History and chemistry aren’t about to follow the rules of this engagement.

2. Act Your Age , Eva Brown (The Brown sister series)

Act Your Age, Eve Brown (The Brown Sisters, #3)

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It’s time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she’s not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.

3. Accidentally Engaged

Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her single status, and most of all, her family inserting themselves into every detail of her life. But when caring for her precious sourdough starters, Reena can drown it all out. At least until her father moves his newest employee across the hall–with hopes that Reena will marry him.

But Nadim’s not like the other Muslim bachelors-du-jour that her parents have dug up. If the Captain America body and the British accent weren’t enough, the man appears to love eating her bread creations as much as she loves making them. She sure as hell would never marry a man who works for her father, but friendship with a neighbor is okay, right? And when Reena’s career takes a nosedive, Nadim happily agrees to fake an engagement so they can enter a couples video cooking contest to win the artisan bread course of her dreams.

As cooking at home together brings them closer, things turn physical, but Reena isn’t worried. She knows Nadim is keeping secrets, but it’s fine— secrets are always on the menu where her family is concerned. And her heart is protected… she’s not marrying the man. But even secrets kept for self preservation have a way of getting out, especially when meddling parents and gossiping families are involved

4.The Sweet Taste of Muscadine

A woman returns to her small southern hometown in the wake of her mother’s sudden death–only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets–in this intimate debut novel, written with deep compassion and sharp wit.

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father’s untimely demise when she was a child. Both Lila and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives of their own. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain behind to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet despite their independence, Lila and Henry know deep down that they’ve never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

When their elderly mother dies suddenly and suspiciously in the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, Lila and Henry return to the town that essentially raised them. But as they uncover more about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines reminds us all that true love never dies

5. Meet Me in Paradise

Marin Cole has never:
Seen the ocean
Climbed a mountain
Taken a risk on love
….But if her sister’s plan works, she just might do all three.

Ever since her journalist mother died on assignment, Marin has played it safe, refusing to set foot outside the state of Tennessee. Her wild-child younger sister, Sadie, has trotted the globe as a photographer, living off of art and adrenaline.

When Sadie returns from a tough assignment abroad and looks a little worse for wear, Marin reluctantly agrees to a sisters’ spa weekend on the tropical island of Saba. But her lifelong fear of travel is affirmed when Sadie misses the flight, Marin’s luggage gets mixed up with another passenger’s, and an episode of turbulence sends her hurtling into the lap of Lucas Tsai, the handsome stranger who stole her sister’s seat.

For the first time in a long time, Marin has to step outside of her comfort zone as she explores the island with Lucas and learns what she’s been missing out on. With each breathtaking new experience, Marin gets closer to her real self, the man she’s falling for, and the heart-wrenching truth about why she’s there in the first place.

The Dog Share – ARC Book Review

The Dog Share: the new feel-good romantic comedy from the #1 Kindle Best Selling author by [Fiona Gibson]

The next gloriously uplifting book from the #1 bestselling author of The Mum Who Got Her Life Back.

Suzy Medley is having a bad day…

… when a shabby terrier turns up at her door. Just like Suzy, Scout has been abandoned, although only Suzy has been left with a financial mess and a business in tatters thanks to her ex.

Suzy takes Scout in and her chaotic world changes in unexpected ways: strangers have never been more welcoming and her teenage kids can’t wait to come home to visit.

Then a chance encounter on a windy Hebridean beach makes things more complicated, because Suzy isn’t the only one who needs a friend.

Scout has plenty of love to go round… but does Suzy?

A wonderfully funny and uplifting story about friendship and second chances (and whisky!), perfect for fans of Gill Sims and Jill Mansell

No. of pages:- 354 pages

Publisher:-Avon

Date published:- will be published on March 4th 2021

Genre:- Humour

I hate giving a book low stars but unfortunately, this book was not just for me.

I have read Fiona Gibson’s books so I got this book and was excited to read it. I do enjoyed reading her books. Unfortunately, I didn’t very much enjoy the story as I expected it to be.

The plot was too confusing to me, at times I didn’t understand and it was really boring. The story is told from the perspectives of Suzy and Ricky. Suzy comes across a cute adorable dog and named the dog Scout and basically the story is all about how this dog changed Suzy’s life in general. The dog part is cute but nonetheless, I didn’t enjoy the story much like I used to in her previous books.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for giving me this ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Two Stars" photos, royalty-free images, graphics, vectors & videos | Adobe Stock

A View Across The Rooftops – Book Review

A View Across the Rooftops: An epic, heart-wrenching and gripping World War Two historical novel by [Suzanne Kelman]

1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. An unforgettable story of love, hope and betrayal, and a testament to the courage of humanity in history’s darkest days.

As Nazis occupy his beloved city, Professor Josef Held feels helpless. So when he discovers his former pupil Michael Blum is trying to escape the Gestapo, he offers Michael a place to hide in his attic.

In the quiet gloom of the secret room, Michael talks of his beautiful, fearless girlfriend, Elke. Michael insists that not even the Nazis will come between them. But Elke is a non-Jewish Dutch girl, and their relationship is strictly forbidden.

Josef sees the passionate determination in his young friend’s eyes. Furious with the rules of the cruel German soldiers and remembering his own heartbreak, Josef feels desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance. But then tragedy strikes, and Josef is faced with an impossible choice.

In the dark days of war, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted. If Michael is to survive and get back to the woman he loves, it will be down to Josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive.

Even if it means putting his own life in mortal danger.

A heartbreakingly beautiful story about courage against the odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, All The Light We Cannot See, and The Nightingale.

No. of pages:- 398 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- October 25th 2019

Genre:- Historical Fiction

If you bloggers know me, I love historical fictions but based on WWII and Holocaust. So this book is a perfect example based on WWII and Holocaust, during the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. The story is about the lives of a university professor, Josef Held, who lost his wife twenty years ago, Michael Blum, a Jew in love with a Dutch girl named Elke, Hannah Pender, who is working at the university and is working with the resistance and Ingrid, Josef’s niece, working for the Nazis and in love with a Nazi. I felt at the edge of my seat, particularly the scene where Ingrid and her Nazi love enters into the Josef’s house while Michael is hiding in the attic and my heart beats rapidly, rapidly hoping he is not caught!! The story, though told from the third person point of view is told from the perspectives of these characters.

I must say, the author has done tremendous research on these topics. Quite similar to Anne Frank except, this is a work of fiction though based on real events. The emotions each of these characters are going through, how Josef made a split second decision to hide Michael up in the attic of his house for almost two years, how he and Michael soon developed a sense of camaraderie, Hannah’s emotions about how Jews were being treated and secretly getting involved with the Resistance and Ingrid, who is naïve and oblivious to Nazi’s atrocious treatments towards Jews and Dutch people alike. This was actually an emotional read, heart wrenching book to me. The author did a good job drawing the reader into the story!

Overall, I give this book five stars!

Suzanne Kelman is an Amazon international bestselling author in America, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia and her books have sold over 250,000 copies worldwide and have been translated into six languages. Her WW2 historical fiction books “A View Across the Rooftops”, “When We Were Brave, and Under a Sky on Fire” are published by Bookouture – an imprint for Hachette U.K.

She is also the author of the bestselling book, “The Rejected Writers’ Book Club”, published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, “Rejected Writers Take the Stage” and “The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding”.

Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.

In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.

As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, “Over My Dead Body”, had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.

Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.

Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch – https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com

The Winter Girls – ARC Book Review

The Winter Girls: A totally gripping crime thriller (Agent Tori Hunter Book 2) by [Roger Stelljes]

Gazing out the cabin window at the raging blizzard, fear suddenly floods through her as she feels a stranger’s hand clamp across her mouth. No one can hear her stifled screams as she is dragged from the couch by the fire out into the snow.

When seventeen-year-old Savannah Devenish vanishes from her family’s remote vacation cabin in Minnesota, FBI Agent Tori Hunter races along treacherous icy roads to be first on the scene. Savannah’s parents are frantic with worry for their beautiful, carefree girl. Haunted by memories of her own missing sister, Tori vows to do whatever it takes to reunite this family.

When the police uncover that Savannah’s father Jacob was having an affair, they suspect his involvement, but Tori is convinced his despair is genuine. Her close relationship with the chief detective means the team won’t listen, so Tori strikes off alone, persuading Savannah’s distraught best friends to share their secrets. It seems this ‘good girl’ was sneaking out to parties to meet up with a mysterious man…

Then another teenager is snatched from the street, snowy footprints and a discarded hot chocolate cup the last trace of her. The girls are the same age, strikingly pale and blonde. Is a twisted collector stealing them away? And what chance is there that they are being kept alive?

With a deadly snowstorm closing in, Tori battles the elements—and her own team—as she follows the trail to an abandoned cabin by a frozen lake. In the basement are bedrooms filled with clothes for teenage girls. Tori was too late to save her own missing sister twenty years ago, but can she find these girls before they disappear forever?

An utterly addictive and twisty crime thriller that will have your eyes glued to the pages and your heart in your mouth. Fans of Kendra Elliot, Robert Dugoni and Tess Gerritsen won’t be able to put this down.

No. of pages:- 388 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on 4th March 2021

Genre:- Thriller

After reading the first book of the Agent Tori Hunter series and was impressed by the book that I couldn’t wait to read the second book of the series. And finally I did!!!

The story begins with seventeen-year old Savannah Devenish being kidnapped from the cabin and witnessing her own mother being shot to death. Agent Tori Hunter, who no longer works in the FBI but is a professor at the University and is working with Braddock who is also her lover. Together, they discover a sex trafficking that is happening around Minnesota.

I must say, just like the first book, this book was so intense!!!! It was as if I was going on a roller coaster ride with both Hunter and Braddock and felt like in a part of the game. The writing was good, lots of unexpected twists and turns and quiet a fast paced thriller! I felt like I was in a cat and mouse chase game with Hunter and Braddock as they try to track down Savannah’s abductor. Not only, I felt as if I am in some kind of action packed thriller, waiting to know what is going to happen next!!!

Truly enjoyed reading the second book and this book is unputdownable, that will make you go on a roller coaster ride, fast paced thriller with twists and turns. Worth five stars!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me ARC. The review is based on my most honest opinion.

Books vs Movie – Part 1

So as a book lover, how do you feel when the book you really loved was made into a movie? Well, sometimes, there are certain books I wish was made into a movie. But when I see the movie, I feel the book was better!

So today, I am going to select a book that was made into a movie and compare them with each other.

So the book I am going to select today is…The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Have you read the Kite Runner? If you haven’t, then you should buy the book and read it. One of the powerful, haunting and emotional books I have read, and debut book of Khaled Hosseini and talks about friendship between two Afghan boys.

This book was adapted ino a film

Have you watched the movie? Maybe you have. But if you have not read the book nor watched the movie, my suggestion is, read the book before watching the movie.

I have read the book AND have watched the movie so that’s why I selected this book. So here are the pros and cons of the movie.

Pros.

Hassan is my favorite character in both the book and the movie and the boy who portrayed as Hassan did a good job.
Even Amir, though he is not really my favorite character (until the end), both the child actor and the adult actor did a good job portraying the role
The music background used in the movie was beautiful and really outlined the movie

Cons

I felt the movie didn’t really do much justice to the book. I was so emotional and almost cried while reading the book, but with the movie, I didn’t feel like that way much.
The movie was a bit rushed in my opinion and missed out chunks of some important events that were in the book–particularly the adoption part. I am not going to spoil much but Amir went through a lot when he was going to adopt Sohrab, Hassan’s son.

My verdict?

The book is better than the movie!!!!!

So if you watched the Kite Runner do you agree with me? Leave a comment below!

Sunset on the Square – ARC Book Review

Sunset on the Square: Escape on a Spanish holiday with this heartwarming love story (Island Romance Book 3) by [Lilac Mills]

She never thought she’d love again…

In her late 50s and having lived in Tenerife for over 15 years, there’s not much on the island that can surprise widowed Elspeth. Until her hotelier friend asks her to put up a guest after they’ve overbooked – and handsome Charles is suddenly staying in very close quarters.

Long buried emotions are coming back to life.

Devastated by the death of her husband four years ago, Elspeth isn’t open to new romance. Yet something about Charles pulls her in, and they grow closer together. But Charles’ holiday is drawing to a close, and Elspeth needs to decide what she really wants – and how to get it.

The perfect holiday romance for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Mandy Baggot.

No. of pages:- 250 pages

Publisher:- Canelo

Date published:- will be published on 25th February 2021

Genre:- Romance

The third book of the island series by Lilac Mills though the characters and the plot line are different. Each book is a standalone but nonetheless, truth to say, I have gotten addicted to these island series!

Elspeth is a widow mourning at the loss of her husband Ray. Every morning, before going to work, she would talk to her husband, whose ashes are buried under the orchid tree. Then her life changes when her friends, Amanda and Toni asks Elspeth to provide lodging to a British traveler named Charles Brown and Elspeth realizes she feels dizzy when she is around him…

Just like the previous book I have read from the island series, this book was really good!!! Warm, funny at some parts, I do really like Elspeth as a character–her character is so well written and also I really wanted her to fall in love again!!! While reading the book, I really felt as if I was on holiday in a Spanish island as author used realistic descriptions to make the reader feel like they are on holiday with Elspeth and Charles! The writing was really great and I got drawn into the story. Elspeth is actually a very likable character and so does Charles. And the ending? It was really sweet and heartwarming ending!

Overall, this book is a heartwarming love story and is actually perfect for someone who is looking for a summer read! Worth five stars! I hope there will be a fourth book soon!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for granting me the ARC of this book. This review is based on my honest opinion.

Lilac Mills lives on a Welsh mountain with her very patient husband and incredibly sweet dog, where she grows veggies (if the slugs don’t get them), bakes (badly) and loves making things out of glitter and glue (a mess, usually). She’s been an avid reader ever since she got her hands on a copy of Noddy Goes to Toytown when she was five, and she once tried to read everything in her local library starting with A and working her way through the alphabet.

She loves long, hot summer days and cold winter ones snuggled in front of the fire, but whatever the weather she’s usually writing or thinking about writing, with heartwarming romance and happy-ever-afters always on her mind..

Autumn Skies Over Ruby Falls – Book Review

Autumn Skies over Ruby Falls: An utterly gorgeous, heartwarming romantic comedy to escape with by [Holly Martin]

Get swept away to the sparkling Cornish coast with the stunning new novel from the international million selling author Holly Martin. Autumn Skies Over Ruby Falls is the perfect romantic treat to snuggle up with this autumn.

Clover Philips is exactly where she’s meant to be – back home on Jewel Island teaching dance to the guests at the beautiful Sapphire Bay Hotel that she co-owns with her sisters Skye and Aria. Her life is complete, except for one thing…

When Clover left London she also left behind a devastating betrayal. She hasn’t been able to date anyone since, let alone allow herself to fall in love. What she needs is a casual fling to ease herself back into romance. And as luck would have it, the very handsome Angel Mazzeo is back in town.

The chemistry between Clover and Angel has been undeniable ever since Angel first arrived on Jewel Island six months ago. And though content to be her friend till now, Angel is more than willing to help Clover find her dating feet again.

It should be easy to keep things carefree when love is off the table, but when every moment is magical what started as casual soon becomes something much deeper. Will Clover and Angel find the courage to tell each other how they really feel? And is Clover ready to do the one thing she swore she’d never do again, fall in love?

Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Sarah Morgan and Sophie Kinsella, this unforgettable romance is guaranteed to make you smile and melt your heart.

No. of pages:- 256 pages

Date published:- September 10th 2020

Genre:- Romance

First of all I love the cover design. Actually nearly all Holly Martin’ book covers are so very pretty!!! And second of all, I love the story!

Clover Phillips has moved from London to the small Cornish town and runs the hotel with her sister, Aria and Skye. When her childhood friend, Angel Mazzeo returns back from Dubai from a business trip, Clover develops feelings towards Angel but after what she had gone through in her previous relationship, she wasn’t sure…the story is set during the Halloween time, filled with Halloween games, costume party vivid descriptions set during the autumn season.

I really thought this story was quite warm and funny romantic story! There were certain parts in the book that I actually burst out laughing and I must say, I really do like the chemistry between Angel and Clover!!! I also like the warm sister relationship between Clover, Aria and Skye and to be honest, while I was reading the story, I felt as if I was also a part of that community!!! The book is well written and the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story.

Overall, despite the fact that I am not a romance book fanatic, this book truly warmed me up! Truly a heart felling love story filled with laughter and you feel as if you are in that Cornish town!! Worth five stars!

Holly lives in a little white cottage by the sea. She studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel receptionist followed by a even more glamorous two years working in a bank. The moment that one of her colleagues received the much coveted carriage clock for fifteen years’ service was the moment when she knew she had to escape. She quit her job and returned to university to train to be a teacher. Three years later, she emerged wide eyed and terrified that she now had responsibility for the development of thirty young minds. She taught for four years and then escaped the classroom to teach history workshops, dressing up as a Viking one day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next. But the long journeys around the UK and many hours sat on the M25 gave her a lot of time to plan out her stories and she now writes full time, doing what she loves.

Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance. She is the bestselling author of 26 books selling over a million books worldwide. Holly’s books have been translated into French, German, Italian, Dutch, Bulgarian, Estonian, Turkish and Russian.

Alone in the Woods – ARC Book Review

Alone in the Woods: A completely gripping crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat (Detective Alyssa Wyatt) by [Charly Cox]

The sudden appearance of a man’s booted feet had Addis snapping her mouth shut. Screaming, she kicked out at the tall, muscular guy as he dragged her from beneath the desk…

It was a scene from a horror movie; Gabriel Kensington and his wife Lydia found, brutally slain in their luxurious home in New Mexico. The frantic, whispered phone call from their teenage daughter Addis, spending the evening with best friend Emerson, quickly alerts the authorities to the killings – and worse, that the killer is still inside the house.

But when detective Alyssa Wyatt and the squad appear at the house, the unthinkable has happened – the girls are nowhere to be found.

Waking up in a dilapidated cabin, nestled high in the woods north of Albuquerque, the girls find themselves at the mercy of a brutal stranger who could take their life at any moment. While they fight for survival, it’s up to Alyssa Wyatt and her partner Cord to discover just why the Kensingtons have been targeted – and fast.

Because for Addis and Emerson, solving this mystery might just mean the difference between survival – or an unthinkable death…

No. of pages:- 295 pages

Date published:- will be published on 17th February 2021

Genre:- Thriller

This is the third book of the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series.

After reading Toy Box, I badly want to read more books from this author and so I was so happy when Hera publishers granted me this ARC! Detective Alyssa is back in her game when a privileged couple, Gabriel and Lydia Kensington was found brutally murdered in their homes and their daughter Addis along with her best friend Emerson are missing. Alyssa finds that Gabriel is an PI and believed that one of the cold cases would have led ultimately to his death and along with her partner Cord, they would set to find the murderer…

This book was AMAZING!! Again an action packed filled book with twists and unexpected turns you would generally expect in a thriller. And also quite fast paced too!!!! I really like how Addis and Emerson stick together after they being kidnapped and the ordeal they both faced together seemed realistic to me. It was also unputdownable that I couldn’t wait to get to the ending!! And the ending–there is just one word–UNEXPECTED. Totally unexpected twisted ending!

Overall, I give this book five stars!!! Can’t wait for Book 4 to come!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hera publishers. This review is strictly based on my opinion.

Born in the South, raised in the Midwest, Charly now resides in the Southwest in the Land of Enchantment, Green Chile capital of the world, which is good because she enjoys eating copious amounts of the spicy food. When she’s not reading, writing, or plotting sinister evils with her antagonists, she enjoys doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, hanging out with her husband and her spoiled Siberian Husky, visiting her son in Arizona, and traveling, preferably to places surrounded by sun, sand, and warm uncrowded beaches.

My Great Ex-scape – Book Review

My Great Ex-Scape: A laugh out loud romantic comedy for 2021 by [Portia MacIntosh]

What if your future was somewhere in your past?

Rosie Jones has been dumped by every boyfriend she’s ever had – most recently by Dinosaur Dave, live on TV, during the ‘phone-a-friend’ segment of a quiz show. After the footage goes viral Rosie receives a bunch of flowers with a message:

I love you, I should have never let you go, I want you back x

But who sent them?

At a loose end and with £50,000 prize money in her back pocket, Rosie decides to take a trip down memory lane, visiting each of her ex-boyfriends to see not just if they are the one who sent the flowers but if they are the one.

Her journey takes her back to the house she grew up in and on a transatlantic cruise to New York, but can Rosie figure out which ex-boyfriend is the love of her life, or should the past stay in the past?

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller, Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Sophie Ranald and Zara Stoneley.

No. of pages:- 280 pages

Date published:- January 16th 2020

Genre:- Romance

So after reading The Plus One (which I had done a book review on this blog last year), I always wanted to read Portia McIntosh books and I was excited to get my hands on this book. However, unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations I had with her books.

Rosie Jones gets dumped while on air in the quiz show and goes viral. She quits her job and then finds a bunch of roses with a note left behind in front of her apartment, believing that one of ex boyfriends had left those flowers, she embarks on a cruise tour with the money she won from the quiz show to find which boyfriend had left those flowers.

I do like the plot and I believe the story is funny but unfortunately, it was a bit boring to me. It was all about the cruise in general and I didn’t really enjoy the story much. However the writing was good and there were parts in the story where I burst out laughing.

Overall, this was an OK romance story–worth three stars

Portia MacIntosh has been ‘making stuff up’ for as long as she can remember – or
so she says. Whether it was blaming her siblings for that broken vase when she
was growing up, blagging her way backstage during her rock chick phase or,
most recently, whatever justification she can fabricate to explain away those
lunchtime cocktails, Portia just loves telling tales.
After years working as a music journalist, Portia decided it was time to use her
powers for good and started writing novels instead.
Bestseller Portia writes hilarious, sexy romcoms, drawing on her real life experiences.

Find out more at http://www.portiamacintosh.com