Suddenly That Summer – ARC Book Review

Title:- Suddenly that Summer

Author:- Lizzie Bryon

Date published:- will be published on May 26th 2022

Publisher:- Cornet

No. of pages:- 288 pages

Genre:- Holiday

Rating:-

Sometimes, you have to go far from home to find your way back.

Nora is about to turn twenty-seven and things couldn’t be better. She’s just told her boss exactly what she thinks of him after being offered her dream job and is looking forward to a summer of old friends and new adventures.

But when Nora discovers that there’s been a mistake and they’ve given her dream job to someone else, her future – and summer – suddenly isn’t looking so bright. So, when she’s given the opportunity to escape to idyllic Cornwall, she doesn’t hesitate.

It was just supposed to be a distraction while she looks for something else, but could this be the summer that she finds everything she’s looking for right there in Cornwall?

Nora was excited after being offered her dream job but soon she discovers that the dream job was offered to someone else. Suddenly, that summer doesn’t look too bright for Nora. So Nora ends up escaping to idyllic Cornwall as soon as she gets that opportunity. Will she find something in Cornwall?

Nora’s character is an enjoyable character to read and I really actually enjoyed reading the story. It really felt like you are spending the summer in idyllic Cornwall and feel like you are there. I like the author’s style of writing and the author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story. I do like how Nora and Sendhil, the guy she meets while she was in Cornwall soon become friends and then turn into a relationship. I also like how the author has outline her relationships with her uncles and her life back in London.

So if you like to read a cheesy summer romance then this book is one for you–worth five stars!

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

Summer at the French Cafe – ARC Book Review

Title:- Summer at the French Cafe

Author:- Sue Moorcroft

Date published:- will be published on May 12th 2022

No. of pages:- 361 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

The gorgeously summery new book from Sue Moorcroft, coming May 2022 – pre-order now!

Sparkling sun, strolls in the gorgeous French countryside, that first sip of cool, crisp wine – Summer is Kat’s favourite season. And this year should be no exception…

As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she’d found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book café in the vibrant Parc Lemmel.

But when she learns her boyfriend isn’t all he seems, it’s the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds.

Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own – ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again?

First of all, I want to give an extra star for the front cover! The yellow colored background with the picture gave a vibrant attraction.

Kat Jenson seems to have it all–a perfect boyfriend, a delightful dog named Angelique and a perfect job at a book cafe in the vibrant Park Lemmel. But then her life takes a turn when she finds out that her so called “perfect” boyfriend isn’t what he seemed to be–he is already married! Now Kat thinks her life is shattered but then she meets mysterious Noah, who seem to be having family problems as well–his wife remarried who seemed to be taking control of Noah’s own daughter Clemence. Now Kat and Noah must overcome their family obstacles and eventually, their friendship soon turns to romance as they help each other out.

I am very skeptical about romance books but this book actually grew into me. I really like the author’s style of writing which was engaging and as a reader who had never been to France, I felt like I was in France, in this quaint small town with all those descriptions. I do like how the author labeled out Kat’s relationship with her own father and how she helps Noah to meet his daughter Clemence. I simply couldn’t put this book down as I actually grew into liking Kat and Noah’s relationship. Overall, a heartwarming romance novel that will make the reader feel like they are in France and in love.

If you like a story set in small quaint vibrant French town and want to feel like you are in France, then this book is one for you. Worth five stars!

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

Sue Moorcroft is an award-winning Sunday Times and internationally published author of emotionally compelling, feel-good, page-turning fiction who has reached #1 on Amazon Kindle UK and Top 100 Amazon Kindle US.

Her novels, short stories, serials, courses and columns have appeared around the world. An army child, Sue was born in Germany and then lived in Cyprus, Malta and the UK.

Website: suemoorcroft.com Twitter: @suemoorcroft Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor

Facebook: SueMoorcroftAuthor and sue.moorcroft.3

The Girl with the Diary (Last Words Book series 1) – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Girl with the Diary

Author:- Shari J Ryan

Date published:- will be published on May 24th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 331 pages

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:-

“What if you never come back?” I asked.
“I will find you, Amelia. I promise I will find you.”
“What if you die trying?”

Nazi-occupied Prague,1942: Amelia is hiding in her closet when flashlights blind her and she’s captured by the SS. Out on the cobblestone street, she is shoved onto a freight train with hundreds of others. Hours pass as they travel in darkness.

Arriving in Theresienstadt concentration camp, Amelia fears for her life when she is led to a block by a soldier. He is her enemy—but he risks everything to secretly pass her a piece of bread; an act that saves her.

They are meant to despise one another, but Amelia and Charlie are powerfully drawn to each other. Yet amongst so much tragedy, surviving feels impossible, and falling in love is a miracle…

Under the all-seeing gaze of the guards and endless watchtowers, there is only so long they can keep their secret—and the very act of loving each other endangers their lives. Will they remain loyal to each other in the face of death? And when they finally say goodbye, will it be by choice or by force?

Years later, a worn leather diary filled with faded yellow pages, unopened for decades, will reveal the devastating truth…

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and Orphan Train will be totally swept away by this World War Two heartbreaker which shows that, even in hell, love can bloom.

This is the first book of the Last Word series, the other two books, The Prison Child and The Soldier’s Letters, the reviews will come up soon.

The story starts with Emma, who is close to her grandmother takes her to the hospital, when her grandmother suffers from the stroke. While at the hospital, the grandmother starts asking for a Charlie and then asks Emma to read her diary. Emma starts reading her grandmother’s diary, with the diary starting in 1942, when Amelia, her grandmother, was taken as a prisoner to Terezin concentration camp, where she meets a Nazi soldier, Charlie, with whom she develops friendship and eventually a romantic relationship.

The story divides between Emma, the present day and Amelia starting from 1942, as excerpts from her diary. I actually did like the change in timelines which worked very well in the story and I was truly engaged into the story. The author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and allowing the reader to follow on the journey with Amelia and Emma. I simply couldn’t put this book as I wanted to know what was going to happen next? I do like how Emma and Jackson, the doctor who was looking after Amelia, how their relationship worked out. It was actually quite funny and engaging to read that relationship. However, reading about Amelia and her life in the concentration camp, which as we know how Holocaust affected so many Jewish lives was too brutal to read. Even the author’s own family members were survivors of Holocaust so I can udnerstand how this story was personal to her as well. Though it’s a work of fiction, nevertheless, it fell so realistic. I liked how Charlie, a Nazi helps Amelia to escape from the camp with a child. Those tense moments were actually scary to read. Overall, the ending was emotional and heartbreaking, with the twist that you did not expect. I truly enjoy reading this book.

If you like books, based on Holocaust, then I recommend reading this emotional and heartbreaking story of a girl and a boy who risked his own life and career to save the girl he loves. Truly worth five stars and will soon start reading the other two books of the series!

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

Royalty Books – 5 books with a royalty background

So…books with a royalty background seemed to be a popular trend these days. Though I have read little on the books with royalty background, I have comprised a list of books with a royalty background which I am planning to read or have already read.

  1. Tokyo Ever After- Emiko Jean

2. Red White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston

This book is in my TBR list

3. American Royals series – Katherine McGee

4. Royal Holiday – Jasmine Guillory

5. The Royal We Series – Jessica Morgan

Four Aunties and a Wedding – Book Review

Title:- Four Aunties and a Wedding

Author:- Jesse Sutanto

No. of pages:- 303 pages

Date published:- March 29th 2022

Genre:- Comedy/Romance

Rating:- 4/5

They vow to make it a day to remember…

The laugh-out-loud new novel from the bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties, winner of the Comedy Women In Print Prize 2021

‘Funny, razor-sharp and full of twists, this is a fantastic second novel from one of the funniest voices in fiction!’ My Weekly

It’s supposed to be the perfect day…
After getting away with literal murder, Meddy can’t wait to settle down and marry the love of her life, Nathan. She’s found the dress, got the dream venue at Christ Church College, Oxford, plus having a destination wedding comes with the added bonus of not having to invite her very large extended family.

…But is it even a wedding if nobody gets killed?
Although when her meddling aunties get involved, Meddy knows her wedding is going to be anything but quiet. Even though there’s no dead body hidden in the freezer this time, for better or worse, it’s certainly going to be a day she’s never going to forget…

Spoiler Alert! Before reading this book, I think you should read the first book of the aunties series Dial A For Aunties as the second book kind of follows the events that happened after that.

Maddie finally marries Nathan and Maddie along with her dramatic aunts and mother goes to England for the wedding. She hires a photographer named Stephanie and her family for the preparations. But Maddie finds out that Stephanie and her family belong to some “mafia” gang and is about to kill someone who will be attending the wedding. Now Maddie along with her aunts must stop the murder from happening before it’s too late.

I personally liked the audio version–the narrator does a very good job of narrating the story. And as usual, the story has so much funny moments that actually made me laugh out loud–Maddie and her aunts have a knacky way of making everyone laugh and the author actually did a good job with that! The kidnapping of the uncles, the way Maddie and her aunts argue, the aunts’ dresses all made a funny impression in a good way. The story felt like I was watching some Korean drama while reading the book. There were some exaggerating parts in the book that seemed too unrealistic but nonetheless it was enjoyable to read. The ending was predictable. But despite that, I kind of hope that there might be a third installment of the Meddy and her aunts!!

So if you like to read a good comedy, this book is one for you–worth four stars!

What Can’t Be Seen (Dr. Gretchen White Book 2) – ARC Book Review

Title:- What Can’t Be Seen

Author:- Brianna Labuskes

Date published:- will be published on Mary 24th 2022

Publisher:- Thomas and Mercer

No. of pages:- 364 pages

Genre:-Psyhcological Thriller

Rating:-

A brilliant psychologist faces the secrets and lies of her own dark past in a shocking novel of suspense by the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Familiar Sight.

“Gretchen…What have you done?”

Psychologist and criminologist Dr. Gretchen White, top consultant for the Boston PD, has solved countless cases—but never her own. Since the age of eight, she has lived her life thinking she killed her aunt. After all, she was found standing over the body, clutching a bloody knife. Most people, including Detective Patrick Shaughnessy, believe the little sociopath got away with murder. Thirty years later, Detective Lauren Marconi wants to prove them wrong.

When plucking at the threads of the past unravels a decades-old case tied to the White family, both Lauren and Gretchen grapple with the question, What if Gretchen really is guilty? As old secrets come to light and Gretchen’s lifelong grip on her darkest impulses threatens to erode, Shaughnessy is there watching, waiting for her to lose control one more time.

Everyone thinks they know what happened that night. But the truth is beyond what anyone imagines—even Gretchen herself.

Dr. Gretchen White is back with her partner Detective Marconi but this time, to find the real answers as to what really happened, the night Gretchen was accused of killing her aunt Rowan. As she and Detective Marconi starts investigating, as Gretchen do not really remember what happened the night Rowan was murder, they discover many dark secrets–including a serial killer who killed girls back in the 1980’s that might link to Gretchen’s own family.

Despite four and three star rating, I actually thought this was a fast paced thriller with some twists and turns along the way. The story shifts back and forth between the present day and the past set in the 1980’s and 1990’s, 1993 the year Gretchen actually killed her aunt. I do like the companionship between Lauren and Gretchen, how Lauren firmly believes that Gretchen was innocent of the crimes. The writing was good that the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story and I was kept at the edge of the seat as I wondered did Gretchen actually killed her own aunt or did someone else frame her. The ending and the revelation at the end was shocking that I actually didn’t really accept that type of ending.

Overall, I actually enjoyed this fast paced thriller that will keep you hooked into the night and quite unputdownable–worth five stars!

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

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Brianna Labuskes graduated from Penn State University with a degree in journalism. For the past eight years, she has worked as an editor at both small-town papers and national media organizations such as Politico and Kaiser Health News, covering politics and policy. Her historical romance novel, One Step Behind, was released by Entangled Publishing. She lives in Washington, DC, and enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the city’s best brunch options. Visit her at http://www.briannalabuskes.com.

Crazy To Leave You – ARC Book Review

Title:- Crazy To Leave You

Author:- Marilyn Simon Rothstein

Date published:- will be published on May 24th 2022

No. of pages:- 301 pages

Genre:- Jewish Fiction/Romance/Humor

Rating:- 4/5

Forty-one years old, the last of her friends to marry, and down to a size 12, Lauren Leo is in her gown and about to tie the knot. There’s just one thing missing: the groom. With one blindsiding text, Lauren is unceremoniously dumped at the altar.

In the aftermath, her mother is an endless well of unsolicited advice (Stay on your diet and freeze your eggs). Her sisters only add to the Great Humiliation: one is planted on Lauren’s couch while the other is too perfect.

Picking her heart up off the floor, Lauren turns to her work in advertising as she gathers courage to move on and plan her next step. She should know by now that nothing in life goes according to plan. What lies ahead is the road to self-acceptance and at long last feeling worthy. With a new way to measure love and success, Lauren chucks her scale—and finds a second chance in the most unexpected place.

The story starts of with a forty one year old Lauren Leo who was dumped by her ex-fiance Eric on the day of the wedding. While she is going through the shock at how he dumped her, she then tries to move on with her life, including building her sister bond with her sister Margot and then her friends. The story is basically about how Lauren’s life changes.

I actually enjoyed reading this book. Though the first part of the book was slightly boring, I got into the story during the second half of the story. There were some funny moments in the book that actually made me laugh out loud including the banter between Lauren and her sister Margot, her budding developing romance with Rudy. I also really enjoyed reading the character of Lauren of how she dealt with obstacles, how she worked at her place with fervor and her character is relatable to many out there.

Overall, if you like a book with a memorable character like Lauren, then this book is one for you–worth four stars!

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

Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of Lift and Separate, winner of the Star Award presented by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for Outstanding Debut. Husbands And Other Sharp Objects is her second novel.

Marilyn grew up in New York City, earned a degree in journalism from New York University, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, married a man she met in an elevator, and owned an advertising agency for more than twenty-five years. Marilyn received an MA in liberal studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in Judaic studies from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys speaking at book festivals and community events.

The Cousins – Book Review

Title:- The Cousins

Author:- Karen M McManus

No. of pages:- 327 pages

Date published:- December 3rd 2020

Genre:- YA Thriller

Rating:- 4/5

An explosive YA thriller from international bestselling author of One of Us is Lying.

The Storys are the envy of their neighbours: owners of the largest property on their East Coast island, they are rich, beautiful, and close. Until it all falls apart. The four children are suddenly dropped by their mother with a single sentence:

You know what you did.

They never hear from her again.

Years later, when 18-year-old cousins Aubrey, Milly and Jonah Story receive a mysterious invitation to spend the summer at their grandmother’s resort, they have no choice but to follow their curiosity and meet the woman who’s been such an enigma their entire lives.

This entire family is built on secrets, right? It’s the Story legacy.

This summer, the teenagers are determined to discover the truth at the heart of their family. But some secrets are better left alone.

After reading One of Is Lying by the same author, I got nearly all Karen McManus books and The Cousins is one of them. The story follows three cousins–Milly, Aubrey and Jonah who returns to Gull Cove Island after their grandmother has extended an invitation to meet them. In each of their letters, there’s one sentence “You know what you did last summer,” implying their parents, back in 1990’s when they were teenagers must have done something terrible in the island. The cousins come to the island to find many deep secrets about the island and about their own family and parents as well.

First part of the story was slightly boring but then things got interesting by the mid way of the book. There were some twists and turns, which some are completely unexpected. The story is told from the perspectives of Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, and how their friendship began to develop while being in the island. By the second part of the story and towards the edge, I couldn’t simply put the book down that I got engrossed into the story as to what was going to happen next. The ending was completely unexpected in my opinion.

Overall, if you like a family drama with a thriller element in it, then this book is one for you–worth four stars!

Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her books include the One of Us Is Lying series, which has been turned into a television show on Peacock and Netflix, as well as the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and Nothing More to Tell. Karen’s critically acclaimed, award-winning work has been translated into more than 40 languages. To learn more, visit http://www.karenmcmanus.com or @writerkmc on Twitter and Instagram.

The Trapped Ones (Agent Nikki Hunt Series Book 5) – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Trapped Ones

Author:- Stacy Green

No. of pages:- 266 pages

Date published:- will be published on 3rd May 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

She raced across the woods. Cold wind hit her face, and her heart pounded so fast she could almost feel the panic rushing through her veins.She knocked on the door knowing she didn’t have much time. Fear gripped her. “Please, help,” she whispered.

Rushing to the scene of a homicide at a farmhouse surrounded by thick, dark woodland, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is shocked to find four victims. A mother and father have been stabbed, their son, Bryce, is fighting for his life, and a young woman’s body is lying near the front door, her wrists bound with heart-shaped bunting. Nikki has never seen such a complex scene, but despite recovering from her own painful loss, she will do whatever it takes to bring this killer to justice.

Nikki soon identifies the woman as missing student Jessica Chandler and finds Bryce’s initials woven into the jumper she wore the night she died. It seems like they were a couple, and that the Webers were a happy family. So who would want them dead?

The murders have all the hallmarks of a serial killer: all the evidence suggests the murderer was watching them, turned the security cameras off as they entered and fled the scene from the front door. But then Jessica’s friends tell Nikki she was uncomfortable around Bryce, and when two of Bryce’s friends go missing along Stillwater river, and the girlfriend is found, she claims her boyfriend tried to kill her.

Are Bryce and his friends hiding a dark side? Nikki knows she must dig deeper to find out their secrets, but can she uncover the truth before the killer takes another life?

Nikki Hunt is back with another case!

Nikki was called to a case when four people were found brutally murdered in the farmhouse cabin–a man and a woman, a girl and a boy, the only survivor of the massacre who is fighting for his life. Nikki Hunt thinks the girl, Jessica and the boy Bryce are a couple and that there must be a love triangle involved in their relationship. Bryce was also training to be an Olympic swimmer. But soon Nikki discovers its more sinister than she really thought.

Honestly, this is the fifth book of the Nikki Hun series and I didn’t find this book as interesting as her previous books. It was OK, there were twists and turns and the story got more interesting towards the end actually. The ending was somewhat unexpected but overall, this was a good thriller but compared to her other thrillers, this was OK.

Overall, this is a good thriller that will keep you on the edge–worth four stars.

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

Make Me Disappear – ARC Book Review

Title:- Make Me Disappear

Author:- Jessica Payne

No. of pages:- 381 pages

Date published:- will be published on May 16th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

By the time I realized the truth about Daniel it was too late. But the truth about me? He never saw that coming…

Dr Daniel Ashcroft was perfect: handsome, romantic, protective. I thought I was so lucky.

But then I heard the rumors about his previous girlfriend, that she had vanished without a trace.That’s when I found the cameras in my apartment.

I was trapped. Daniel made it clear I couldn’t leave him, not without risking everyone I loved. I had to disappear, so I arranged my own kidnapping.

I should have known Daniel would never let me get away that easily. But he could never have predicted what I’d do next…

I cannot believe that this is the debut book of the author–this book was well written in my opinion and a gripping psychological thriller!

Noelle is a nurse and is having an abusive relationship with her doctor boyfriend, Dr. Daniel Ashcroft. So she hatches up a plan to have herself kidnapped. But she didnt realize that the person who kidnapped her might be working for Daniel and is a cat and mouse chase.

From the first chapter to the end, the story was fascinating and I was really engrossed into the story. The story is told from Noelle’s perspective as well as Daniel’s perspective so as a reader you have no idea whether you should believe in Noelle’s story or Daniel’s story. I felt like I was watching some sort of an action thriller show that made me sit at the edge of the bed, wanting to know what was going to happen in the end. And trust me, I really did wanted to know what was going to happen in the end that when I reached the end, it completely blew me away–totally unexpected! I actually enjoyed reading this book!

If you like this type of thriller, a thriller where it is unputdownable filled with twists and turns, then this book is one for you–worth five stars!

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

Jessica Payne is the author of MAKE ME DISAPPEAR. She grew up in Kansas City, later moving to the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound became home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is an RN and recently finished her degree as a nurse practitioner. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog (or both!) in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube. You can find out more about her at her website, jessicapayne.net