The Day She Vanished – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Day She Vanished

Author:- Jen Craven

Date published:- will be published on 25th September 2024

No. of pages:- 319 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

Clutching my husband’s hand, I screech with delight as the rollercoaster loops through the air. I feel young and free for the first time in years, but as we roll to a stop and I look for our three beloved children in the crowd, I panic. I can only see two. Where is my daughter?

Today was meant to be special. A final fun family day out before five-year-old Summer joins her big siblings at school. But in an instant, we’re plunged into a nightmare. We scream her name as we frantically search the amusement park for a glimpse of her flaming red hair.

When the police ask about strangers, grudges and enemies, I have no answers, just questions. Why did I think I could leave my children alone, even for a minute? What kind of mother am I?

I feel in my heart that Summer is out there somewhere. But as I obsess about finding her, my family is falling apart. My eldest daughter Merritt is withdrawn. My son Gus is angry. And after seventeen years of marriage, my husband has never felt more like a stranger. Where does he go when he says he’s working late? Who is he constantly messaging?

I must fight to hold my family together, but I’m terrified Summer’s disappearance will destroy us all. Will I ever forgive myself for letting her out of my sight? Will I ever hold her tiny hand in mine again?

A completely gripping and emotional page-turner about every parent’s darkest fear. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.

This is an emotional and heartbreaking tale of a family, who deals with the loss of a child, when their child was abducted on one summer day.

Greta and her family had gone to the amusement park to have the summer fun. While Greta and her husband Wade went to have fun, leaving Merrit their oldest daughter to look after the two children Gus and Summer. When they return back, they realized that Summer is gone but Merrit and Gus was there. Then comes the search for Summer, the trauma that it caused and Greta’s determination to get her daughter safely back home.

This book was well written and it was actually emotionally read. The whole story is told in Greta’s POV and Greta is dealing with guilt, as well as her deteriorating relationship with her family, including her husband and her two children–she started having straining relationship with all three of them. Greta is determined to know what happened to her daughter and at the same time she was determined to find out who was reponsible for kidnapping her daughter. The writing was great and throughout the story, you could actually feel Greta’s pain and anger ad guilt, which makes the book actually really great to read. The ending was actually a happily ever after ending.

Overall, if you are fans of Jodi Picoult, then check this book out, as it talks about child abduction and the trauma and emotions the family is going through after the abduction. Worth 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

en Craven is the author of upmarket women’s fiction, where one decision changes everything. The author of two historical fiction novels, “Best Years of your Life” is her debut contemporary work. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel – ARC Book Review

Title:- Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel

Author:- Rebecca Raisin

Date published:- will be published on 17th September 2024

No. of pages:- 328 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong? When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember

I love reading Rebecca Raisin’s books and her latest book Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is no exception.

Anais is facing disaster–she is getting divorced from her cheating husband and as a divorce settlement, she receives an almost abandoned hotel. Anais wanted to clean up the hotel, sell the hotel and then forget all about it. But the hotel needs to be repaired which makes it impossible to sell and so Anais’s funds seem to be running out as she needs to open the hotel by Christmas. Noah, an American man working at the bar, seems to be entering into her life and then while in the hotel, Anais discovers a secret locked door which might change her life forever.

All Rebecca Raisin’s stories involve a break up and then finding a new romance which seems to be the main trope of the romance novels. However, I just like the setting of the story–it is set in Paris, one of the romantic cities in the world and it is set during the Christmas time which is a plus signs for romance novels. There were some funny moments in the book and I like how Anais and Noah’s relationship eventually changed from strangers to friends to eventually in the end as lovers. The writing is really great with all these beautiful descriptions in and around Paris.

Overall, if you are looking for a good romance read for Christmas, Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is for you! Worth 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the ARC. Thank you for the invite. This review is based on my honest opinion only.

Dangerous Play – ARC Book Review

Title:- Dangerous Play

Author:- Elise Hart Kipness

Date published:- will be published on 16th September 2024

No. of pages:- 289 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

After a tumultuous murder case that almost cost more than her job, sports reporter Kate Green is back on assignment covering women’s Olympic soccer. Between her experience with athletic stardom and days playing with Savannah Baker, head coach of the USA team, Kate is sure to get the story that will reestablish her career.

She just didn’t expect that story to involve murder.

When famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane is found dead in the locker room, Kate’s promising future screeches to a halt as her past resurfaces. Alexa played with Kate and Savannah on the US youth national team , but there was no reason for her to be at the stadium now.

Kate’s investigation puts her in close contact with her estranged father, an NYPD detective who has his own past to answer for. As their secrets collide, Kate will have to decide which ones to keep—and which ones to reveal to stop the killer.

This is the second book of Kate Green series. Even though I haven’t read the first book of the series, I read this book as a standalone.

Kate Green is covering the sports news for the Olympic football match between USA and Argentina. However soon, a body is discovered in the locker room and Kate realizes that the body belongs to a woman named Alexa Kane, a popular jewelry designer. Kate, Alexa and the coach of the football team Savannah has a history with each other. With the help of her estranged father, Kate must dwell into her past and find Alexa’s killer.

This was really a fast-paced thriller. There are some twists and turns and the whole story as a whole was engaging and entertaining. I like how the story is divided into the present day and past, the past talking about Kate’s teenage years when she first met Alexa when they were both competing for the soccer. I like how there are numerous suspects in the story, particularly Savannah who had bullied both Alexa and Kate during the matches. The ending was completely unexpected. The whole teenage friendship between Alexa and Kate was realistic particularly when Kate failed to help Alexa when Alexa was bullied. The story touches about bullying, sexual assaults in general.

Overall this is a page turning thriller that will keep you up all night. Worth 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the book. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned thriller writer. Lights Out is based on her experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV. Like her protagonist, she chased marquee athletes through the tunnels of Madison Square Garden and stood before glaring lights, reporting to national audiences.

In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a news reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press. She is currently co-president of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Elise graduate from Brown University and lives in Connecticut with her family and three labradoodles.

All My Fault – Blog Tour

Title:- All My Fault

Author:- Emma Robinson

Date published:- September 9th 2024

No. of pages:- 352 pages

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Publisher:- Bookouture

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

There’s a knock at the door. It’s every mother’s worst the police are here. They tell me my beautiful daughter Charlotte has been hurt. They’ll take me to the hospital, there’s no time to lose… and I know this must be all my fault.

Charlotte and I argued so badly the last time we spoke. I was just worried about her, but she refused to hear me out. And now she’s lying pale, still and silent in a hospital bed. I’m convinced this was no the police should be questioning her boyfriend, Freddie.

I never thought he was good enough for her, but did he hurt my daughter? Guilt floods through me again and again. If we hadn’t argued, she wouldn’t have been with him today. If we hadn’t argued, I could have been there for her. But I didn’t listen and instead, she pushed me away. I didn’t even know my darling girl was pregnant.

And now she’s lost forever. The doctors say she will never wake the only part of her they can save is her unborn child…

There’s only one thing I can do. He may be my grandchild’s father, but I know Freddie is dangerous. I’ll fight with everything I have to prove he’s guilty.

I failed to protect Charlotte, but how far will I have to go to keep her baby safe? And will what’s left of my family ever or will my part in my daughter’s death tear us all apart?

Joanna and her daughter Charlotte haven’t spoken to each other for a long time. Joanna doesn’t approve of Charlotte’s boyfriend Freddie who she believes is not a very good person. When Joanna receives a visit from two police officers, who tells her that Charlotte has fell down the stairs after an altercation and is at the hospital with life altering injuries, Joanna immediately rushes to the hospital. Joanna firmly believes that Freddie is responsible for whatever happened to Charlotte. Joanna finds out that Charlotte was pregnant. What is going to happen next?

The story is told Joanna’s and Freddie’s POV. Despite the fact that Joanna thinks Freddie is up to no good, reading through Freddie’s POV told me otherwise–that he was loving and caring towards Charlotte. The story overall was emotional and heartbreaking to read and the writing really captures those emotions very well. There are some twists and turns along the way which actually made me second guess about what is going to happen in the end. The book mainly talks about relationships, friendships and family in general and of course some suspense. This book will make you cry a lot.

Overall this book worth a five star rating.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only. Thank you Bookouture for making me a part of this blog tour.

Emma Robinson is the author of several women’s fiction novels. She also blogs about the funny side of parenting and has contributed to podcasts such as Funny Women. Whilst her early novels are humorous, her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming. Emma enjoys writing stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances.

Emma currently lives in Essex with a husband, two children and a small black dog.

https://motherhoodforslackers.com/
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https://twitter.com/emmarobinsonuk

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Good Material – Book Review

Title:- Good Material

Author:- Dolly Alderton

Date published:- November 7th 2023

No. of pages:- 345 pages

Genre:- Fiction/Contemporary/Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing;- 5/5

Overall rating;- 4.5/5

From the bestselling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love: a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both.

Andy’s story wasn’t meant to turn out this way. Living out of a suitcase in his best friends’ spare room, waiting for his career as a stand-up comedian to finally take off, he struggles to process the life-ruining end of his relationship with the only woman he’s ever truly loved.

As he tries to solve the seemingly unsolvable mystery of his broken relationship, he contends with career catastrophe, social media paranoia, a rapidly dwindling friendship group and the growing suspicion that, at 35, he really should have figured this all out by now.

Andy has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend’s side of the story.

Warm, wise, funny and achingly relatable, Dolly Alderton’s highly-anticipated second novel is about the mystery of what draws us together – and what pulls us apart – the pain of really growing up, and the stories we tell about our lives.

This is the first time I am reading a Dolly Alderton book and I actually quiet liked this one.

Andy Dawson is shocked when his girlfriend Jen breaks up with. Now he is dealing with the break-up crisis–he couldn’t help stalking Jen on social media, not to mention he becomes almost homeless and his comedian career doesn’t seem to kick off well. The story actually tells in the POVs of both Andy and later on Jen in the book how each of them are dealing with their break up and how they eventually moved on with their own lives.

This book is so realistic in many ways. Breaking up with someone is not easy and this book clearly shows that. Both Jen and Andy aren’t perfect and their actions clearly reflect that. Being in the mid-thirties, watching your closest friends getting married and having kids seemed to have put a toll on both Jen and Andy. Frankly, reading both Jen’s and Andy’s POV, I couldn’t help but notice how much it actually reflects on my own life as well. The writing was really great, really engaging and there are some parts that will make you laugh out loud. I actually enjoyed reading this book and I couldn’t even believe that this book is actually that good.

Overall I give this book a four star rating.

Dolly Alderton is an award-winning author and journalist. She is a columnist for The Sunday Times Style and has also written for GQ, Red, Marie Claire and Grazia. From 2017 to 2020, she co-hosted the weekly pop-culture and current affairs podcast The High Low alongside journalist Pandora Sykes.

Her first book Everything I Know About Love became a top five Sunday Times bestseller in its first week of publication and won a National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year. Her first novel Ghosts was published in October 2020 and was also a top five Sunday Times Bestseller.

My Sister’s Boyfriend – ARC Book Review

Title:- My Sister’s Boyfriend

Author:- Nicola Marsh

Date published:- 9th September 2024

No. of pages:- 308 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Brooke’s face lights up and the corners of her eyes crinkle as she smiles brightly at her new boyfriend. He gently pulls her in, nestling her cheek on his chest. But when he turns his head towards me, my blood runs cold. I know my sister’s life is in danger…

I would recognize that face anywhere. Handsome and chiseled. The perfect mask. I prayed I would never see Noel Harwood again, but here he is, sneering at me over Brooke’s shoulder.

I want to protect her, but I remember the last time I saw her. Voice dripping with venom, she said she would never forgive my betrayal. I want to scream at her to run and tell her that Noel has done terrible things, but the words die in my throat. I’ve lied too often for her to believe me over her knight-in-shining-armor.

I need to be smart if I want to save my sister. Noel might think he’s one step ahead, but he has no idea what I’m capable of. He could never imagine the darkness that lurks in our family. Or the truth about what happened on the jagged clifftop, all those years ago.

I nearly lost Brooke once, and I’ll never let that happen again. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her…

This is an unputdownable psychological thrill that will keep you up all night!

The story is told in Lizzie Noel and Brooke’s POV. Noel was recently released from prison and then he signs into Lizzie’s classes. He also starts dating Brooke. But Lizzie is suspicious of who Noel really is.

I like the pacing of the story although I kind of predicted what the ending was going to be, although only a certain part of ending, I didn’t actually expect. The story overall was paced and it involves Noel and his twin brother Ned–there is some kind of evil twin story part going on in the story. The writing was great and there are some twists and turns on the story and overall, the story was really interesting and was quiet a page turner. This is the second book I have read from this author and looking forward to read more books from this author!

This is worth 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The Do-Over – Book Review

Title:- The Do -Over

Author:- Lynn Painter

Date published:- November 15th 2022

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Genre:- Romance/ YA/ Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

I have a grown a liking towards Lynn Painter and so I am determined to read all her books. After reading Better Than Movies and Betting on You, I got my hands on The Do-Over.

The Do-Over follows the story of Emilie during the Valentines’ Day. She was hoping to have a nice Valentine Day but ended up having a bad one–she got into a car accident, saw her boyfriend Josh cheating on with another girl, lost her place for a scholarship and above all, her father is moving to Texas. Emilie wished she had a better Valentine’s Day but the next day, she finds herself, repeating the same day again and again–she was in a time loop! And then slowly she realizes and starts fall in love with Nick Stark, a fellow lab partner in Chemistry.

I really like time loop-based stories so this book is no exception. I enjoyed reading this one and really found some parts of the book hilarious and laughable. I like how Emilie keeps re-living the same day over and over again and how in the end she ends up with Nick Stark. Reading this YA book will make you forget everything and enjoy this book so much with a smile on your face and I actually highly recommend this book!

Worth four stars.

The Guncle – Book Review

Title:- The Guncle

Author:- Steven Rowley

Date published:- May 25th 2021

No. of pages:- 326 pages

Genre:- LGBT/Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league.

So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting—even if temporary—isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

Steven Rowley is the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR and Esquire Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2019, and The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and semi-finalist for The Thurber Prize in American Humor. His fiction has been published in twenty languages. Rowley lives in Palm Springs, CA with his husband, the writer Byron Lane.

The Marriage Test – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Marriage Test

Author:- Ellie Monago

Date published:- will be published on 3rd September 2024

No. of pages:- 380 pages

Genre;- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 3/5

Writing:- 3/5

Overall rating:- 3/5

One tropical island. Four couples. They believe they’re on a TV show to save their marriages. But the people behind the cameras know all their secrets. They’re going to be revealed, one by one. Because everyone has something to hide…

An incredibly successful surgeon and her gorgeous partner enjoy a life of luxury. To get it, one of them had to hide a dark past…

A young couple are expecting their first child. Has one of them been unfaithful?

High school sweethearts, missing their two young children. But the suburban dream is becoming a nightmare…

A husband and wife running a successful business together. But with both their marriage and company failing, what is really happening behind closed doors?

But their secrets aren’t the only thing coming out under the bright lights. Because some of the people on this island have met before.

And one of them has a secret they’d kill to protect…

Who will pass the marriage test? And who will survive?

Four couples in a reality TV show, to save their marriage an filmed in a tropical island. But what supposed to save their marriages becomes a nightmare when one of them gets murdered during the TV show and that one of them could be the suspect…

The plot of the story is interesting and intriguing. A reality TV show, couples with questionable past, lies, cheat deceit…it all adds up to a juicy TV show. Plus the fact that a murder takes place also seemed interesting. However, even though I liked the plot of the story, I found the whole story to be slightly slow burn and not interesting. The snippets of the interview between the detective and the producer is interesting although the first part of the book was boring. The characters are all unreliable and are told in different POVs. I do like the concept of using unreliable characters in the story but I felt it didn’t really go well with the whole story. Despite the negativity, I do like the author’s style of writing.

Overall this is worth 3 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutes for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Ellie Monago is the pen name of a novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail. She spent most of her life living in the U.S. and now resides in Western Canada with her family.

The Villa – Book Review

Title:- The Villa

Author:- Rachel Hawkins

Date published:- January 3rd 2023

No. of pages:- 279 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 3/5

Writing:- 3/5

Overall rating:- 3/5

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

This is the second Rachel Hawkins book I have read, the first one The Heiress which I gave a four star rating.

This book follows two friends Emily and Jessica. Jessica known as Chess is a famous author and when she starts inviting Emily to the Villa in Italy, Emily willingly follows her to Italy. But the Villa has a dark history. In 1974, an up and rising rock star was found murdered in the villa and the rock star’s girlfriend Mari had written an infamous novel named Lilith Rising, based loosely on the murder.

The story is medium paced and I like all these newspaper articles, snippets of writing from Mari’s published novel and of course Mari’s POV in 1974. It was slightly boring at first but then things got started interesting when Emily discovers Mari’s published book. I didn’t really like Emily’s POV part much although I did think it got interesting when Emily discovered Mari’s diary . I also like the descriptions of Italy that made me did feel like I was in Italy. However, I feel entertained throughout the story and I actually did enjoy reading the book, though not as much as I did with the Heiress. Overall, in my opinion, it wasn’t really a great book but then it was an OK thriller.

Overall this book worth 3 stars.