I should be saying hello and welcome to everyone, and posting an update. But, I have decided that as much as I enjoy reading and reviewing, I am struggling with the Blogging part of the process.
After 8 years and over 1,800 posts, and with the yearly renewal due, I have made the decision to put Me And My Books on pause for the time being. Some of you may be aware that I have been struggling to find the time, but when I sit down and think about it all, it is this side that I find tiring.
I am all good with the world and within myself, but I just need to step away for a while. I will then see if I miss this side of the reading and reviewing, in which case I will come back to it. But, I have found it refreshing to just write a few reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and that’s it. Not setting up posts, checking tags, hashtags and all the other gumph that goes into running a Blog.
So, for now, I am going to say a massive and huge THANK YOU to everyone who has followed me, reacted to, shared and commented on my posts over the last 8 years. I wish you all the very best and see you around.
I am delighted to share my review today of The Story Shop by Christie Barlow, this is the 3rd book in the Puffin Island series and it is another wonderful book.
My huge thanks to One More Chapter for allowing me a copy to read and review via NetGalley.
When travel writer Jack Hartwell arrives on Puffin Island amidst a terrible storm, he stumbles into The Story Shop, the island’s quaint bookshop.
Seeking refuge, he finds himself immersed in Amelia Brown’s enchanting world of books, puffins, and an eccentric group of book club regulars. So when the enigmatic Amelia challenges Jack to read a mysterious novel The Temptation Bucket List – and to complete its challenges with her – he can’t resist.
But with Jack’s time on Puffin Island ticking away, the stakes rise. The final item on the list? To share a secret that no one else knows…
MY REVIEW
Once again, I return to Puffin Island and visit The Story Shop, this is the 3rd book in the series. Just like the Love Heart Lane series, the book could be read as a standalone, but it’s not something I would suggest because the previous books are amazing!
Amelia runs the bookshop and, along with her love of books, she also has a love of the Puffins, whether it is a scrunchie in her hair or on a jumper, there is usually a puffin embellishing her outfit somewhere.
Jack Hartwell arrives on the island and soon finds himself outside, then inside the bookshop. He keeps his identity to himself, as he has been asked to write an article about the island. All sounds innocent enough, but lurking in the background is something to turn any mood sour!
There are some characters that are already stalwarts of the series, they may not be related to Amelia, but they have known her for years. The group are supportive and they soon push Amelia out of her comfort zone. To be honest, while she did need a push, it was more of a nudge as she was already leaning in a certain direction anyway. But looming overhead is a court case, secrets, and distance.
Jack definitely wasn’t looking for anything, but he arrived on the island and soon made friends. However, he lives in London. He doesn’t know how the future will pan out, especially if people find out the real reason he is on the island.
Oh, secrets, secrets and more secrets. It seems the main players in this story all have something to hide. I will say that the mystery of working out the reasons behind each one was well played out, I did have an inkling, but not till further into the book and then I wasn’t exactly right!
The author has a wonderful way of exploring the nature of her characters and also throwing the odd curveball to throw the reader off the scent. This book has several misdirections, and this adds to the charm and also to the different emotions of the story. At times, the book deals with some tragic events, and at others, there is a massive cheer of giggling and screaming with joy.
I absolutely adored this book and if you have read any of the others in this series, then you are going to adore this one. It has drama, mystery, friendship and romance, with surprises and some wonderful scenes. I would definitely recommend this book.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today of Private Lives by Emily Edwards. This is a fabulous book about the fragility of friendships when one person’s opinion does not align with another’s.
My huge thanks to Random House for accepting my request to read this title via Netgalley.
In the sleepy seaside sleepy town of Waverly, Rosie and Seb Kent are happily married. Now that Seb has achieved his dream of becoming headmaster of the local school, their lives couldn’t be any better.
Then Abi arrives.
Abi, a young, single mother, has come to Waverly for a fresh start. She plans to reinvent herself and give her children a new life.
Then she sees Seb.
As their complicated hidden past threatens to destroy them both, they try their hardest to keep it contained. But in a small town, secrets don’t stay hidden for long and soon, what should be their private business becomes a very public scandal. How far will everyone – them, their families and the whole community – go to protect everything they hold dearest?
MY REVIEW
This is a fabulous book, once I had read a few pages, I was soon addicted. What started as a nice-sounding area, Waverly soon changed, well, not the place, but the people!
Abi has recently moved from London to Waverly with her friend Diego, and they are starting in a new restaurant business. They know each other and what their lives are like. One of the reasons for moving is to start again, new faces, a new place and no expectations.
Anna and Eddy have had a bump in the road, but they seem to have got over it now, and things are moving on nicely.
All are friends with Rosie, she is a mother and also the wife of Seb, the new head teacher of the school. He has responsibilities for those in his charge as well as his family. Home life isn’t great, but they seem to bumble along nicely!
It is a chance encounter that throws everything out of balance. To be honest, the event was going to happen at some point given the geography and also the friendship base those involved share. If things could have been left, it would have been better. You know that thing about what goes on behind closed doors is their own business and not yours? Well, this story has that as its base, and then the author builds on it, and boy does she build.
Using expectations and perspectives of others, the author trolls those involved in a situation that has nothing to do with them. But like the trolls on the internet, some troll in person, but they have a backhanded way of doing it. Seemingly being supportive, but at the same time relishing in the misery and circumstances of others.
An opinion is something we are all entitled to, but when that opinion is pushed into someone else’s face or their lives and it impacts those around them, then it is no longer an opinion. The various emotions and also how people react or respond are very interesting in this story, and I do think this story gives a good snapshot of society. There will be people who stand by and watch the others, either those who think they are justified or those who try to provide a calming effect. Whether it is something you may have seen or experienced in real life, on social media or on TV, there is a chance that you will find this story to be relatable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a contemporary fiction story that has family and friendship at its heart. Trust, loyalty, respect, and the truth are tested, and the author has done a fabulous job of showing the impact one event could have in the future. Brilliant story and a good array of characters, and I would definitely recommend this book.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today of The Women at Ocean’s End by Faith Hogan. I do love this author’s books, this one was an amazing story.
My huge thanks to Aria Fiction for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
Three women, all with secrets waiting to be uncovered, meet on a beautiful island off the Irish Coast.
Constance Macken, in her ninth decade, is looking back on a life filled with laughter and loss, tragedy and triumph, but knows it is time to right the wrongs from her past that have always haunted her.
Heather Banks arrives on the island to bury her mother. Already adrift with her business sold and her divorce finalised this may be the perfect opportunity to change the course of her future.
Ros Stokes has managed to slip into the perfect job, the perfect cottage and friends that feel like family. However, when the stitches of her life begin to unravel, she must find a way to hold onto the things that have become most dear to her and let go of what holds her back. Now, in a faded art deco house near the ocean’s end, these women must come together to save the house they love, and each other, because they might have run from their troubles but only time will tell if they can overcome their past.
MY REVIEW
This is such a beautifully written story about women of different generations, who, over the course of their lives, have come to find solace, refuge, or return to a place they felt was simply home.
Constance lives in Ocean’s End at the top of Pin Hill Island. Once it would have been glamorous, but now, unfortunately, it is decaying. Once the home of an author, who was once popular but now lies forgotten, it is now a memory of what it used to be.
Ros is a blow-in, someone who came to love the island and also built a friendship with Constance. Their first meeting was a surprise, but they got to know each other and their friendship blossomed.
Heather is returning to the island after many long years. She has brought the ashes of her mother, Dotty. It was her final wish to be taken back to the island.
The author has once again created such a magnificent backdrop to a story that encompasses life, love, loss, and regret. This author always manages to bring a tear to my eye somewhere, this book was no exception. The way she builds her characters and their relationships is wonderful. She introduces the characters and shares the details of their lives, but does not reveal everything. It is told in a back-and-forth style and also alternates between characters. The author does this so well and it did not take long for me to get to grips with the characters.
The story is told via each character, they gives details of their childhood, for some of them, it was not a happy one. The past and the present stories tell of hardships and determination, but they have secrets, and these need to come out at some point. Mistakes of the past need to be settled, whether it is admission or forgiveness.
This is a stunning story, the backdrop of the house, garden and the island is just wonderful. The friendships that are built through the story are very captivating. It is so nice to see unconditional friendship. There are many surprises in the story and these come from various sources, not obvious but soon become a realisation that the island has more to offer.
If you are a fan of contemporary fiction that shows how lives can be changed, or have been changed through a single act, then this book is one you want to have a look at. It has some secrets and mysteries, there is romance and there is of course, friendship. A stunning story and one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today of Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood. This is the 5th book in the DS Ashley Knight series, and if you have not read one of these before, then why not take a punt on this one!
My huge thanks to Boldwood Books for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
A brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.
Can Ashley, an outsider in a world of whispers and long-held grudges, unmask the murderer before they kill again?
MY REVIEW
I am really enjoying this series as the author visits places around Norfolk. I have somehow managed to miss the last couple of books and hadn’t realised until I had finished this one! However, it just goes to show that each book can be read as a standalone.
This time, the author takes the reader to the races. Fakenham is the course, and there are plenty of characters to keep you on your toes, as an assault and then the discovery of a body starts the ball rolling into this latest investigation.
DS Ashley Knight leads her team and also welcomes back a previous member. As the synopsis mentions, fortunes can be won or lost in a matter of seconds. It seems it is not only fortunes but also reputations that suffer, but who has the most to gain or lose, or is this a wild goose chase?
What started off as checking out the racetrack for a missing person soon morphs into something much more sinister. The author provides details about racing, bookies, the secrecy behind stables, training and also how money can be made or lost. Rather than add loads of details, he cleverly adds them in as part of the story. So, as the investigating team is learning about the intricacies, the reader is as well. It makes it more palatable and sort of makes sense.
The crime, well, where to start… nothing seems to make sense. There is no real motive as such, then another crime that still leaves the team scratching their heads. When they are asking questions, they are getting answers, but they are either not straight answers, they have something missing or they receive more confusing and contradictory answers. This leaves the team feeling like they are chasing their tails and going in circles as they wait for that sudden penny to drop or mistake to be made.
When the author started to wrap the story up, there was still uncertainty as to who was involved, but then suddenly he added a wonderful twist and completely unsaddled me! I really didn’t see that one coming at all, blinkered to be sure! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist a slight pun(t)!)
This is a fabulous story that is very involved, definitely interesting and had me hooked. It is a crime thriller, police procedural and with an established team. Whether you read the series in order or as a standalone, it is a fabulously intriguing story and one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today of FDR Drive by James Comey. This is the 3rd book in the series, it is a fabulous one.
My huge thanks to Head of Zeus for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
In a new legal thriller by the former director of the FBI, federal prosecutor Nora Carleton and legendary investigator Benny Dugan confront a deadly sect of political extremists.
After a stint in the private sector, working at the largest hedge fund in the world, Nora Carleton has returned to her former role as a New York City federal prosecutor. And she’s arrived just in time to face one of the most dangerous domestic terror attacks in the history of the city.
A threat is building in the city, with far right extremism powered by internet demagogues and funded by shadowy organizations. Together with legendary investigator Benny Dugan and aided by colleagues at the FBI, Nora builds a case against the key players in this burgeoning movement, arguing before a jury that some speech is actually a deadly crime. But the menace taking root is far bigger than any courtroom, and as the militants target an upcoming United Nations rally, Nora and her team must race to disrupt the plans and minimize casualties.
At once a fast-paced legal thriller and a close look at the very real perils of political extremism, FDR Drive harnesses former FBI director James Comey’s life experience to tell an authentic and compelling narrative that readers won’t soon forget.
MY REVIEW
This is the 3rd book in the Nora Carleton series. I have read the first book but somehow missed the second. This book can be read as a standalone; it does work very well.
While Nora Carleton is the main protagonist, she does share the limelight with several other characters. Together they are a powerful team, each one responsible for bringing in their own experiences, abilities and tactics that will help to provide the evidence, support and backup to the investigation. This will lead them to the court trial.
This story has an explosive start, and the reader is soon into the action and meeting those who are going to be on the case. This is not a straightforward story and there are many twists. There are also some technicalities that relate to US law and how different departments deal with terrorism. This is an area the author knows well, his experience shows details that may not have been obvious to others who have not experienced this field.
The story flows so well with the characters, both the personal relationships as well as the professional and criminal ones. There is a sense of urgency to the story and this definitely kept me addicted as I wanted to know how the cards were going to fall and how the investigation would make it to the courtroom.
This is a book about hate, how words can be used to hurt and harm. Most of all, about how the opinion of one can be used to create more and more hatred and vitriol when others join in the conversation. This is something we see more and more in everyday media and especially online. How one person’s word can be a call to arms for others in such an extreme way is beyond me. As someone who lives in the UK, it is easy to say this is something that is the norm for the US, but the same can be seen in so many different countries around the world.
The subject matter is a volatile one, and I think the author has delivered a story that shows how and why a person may change their opinion or take their actions further. This is a crime thriller that delves into the darker topic of politics, terrorism and immigration. It is such an addictive story and one that has a fast pace to it. It is involved and complex, but laid out so well that I soon found myself having to keep reading.
While it is the 3rd in the series, each one can be read as a stand-alone, but there are recurring characters that have a backstory as well as building relationships between characters. Great book and one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Dead Reckoning by Rob Sinclair. This is the first book in the Simon Peake Thriller series and it is a brilliant intro.
My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of the book and my slot on the Blog Tour. Also, the publishers Boldwood Books.
The most dangerous people are those with nothing to lose. Who don’t care if they live or die.
Simon Peake does care… he just isn’t sure about what right now. The ex-soldier’s life is as close to rock bottom as it gets.
He needs a job and he needs a quiet life.
What he gets is a whole load of mess working for New York-based Irish mobster Harry Lafferty. A job that requires him to use his special skills on some very unsavory people. His relationship with Harry’s niece isn’t exactly conducive to a quiet existence either…
As Peake tries to walk the fine line between surviving in this new life, and atoning for his old one, he struggles on both counts. And when his past comes back to bite him, and those closest to him are threatened, the reckoning will be merciless for anyone who stands in his way.
MY REVIEW
I have read a few of this author’s books, so I’m glad to see that I have managed to read the first book in a new series. I so often read out of order!
If you are a fan of action-packed, fast-paced thrillers, then this is an author and a book you may want to put on your list. Simon Peake is essentially a loner; he needs money and so ends up working with an Irish American mob boss, Harry Lafferty.
Simon is an ex-soldier; there are details about one of his missions that are told in a back-and-forth style. It fills in some of the details that explain his character, but I feel this is scratching the surface. Peake is hired as a driver for the Laffertys, which gives him the chance to earn some money, but not all the family are in favour of him. They don’t trust him and his calm demeanour.
The jobs he is out on takes him to some interesting places, and there are airport runs and other meetings for him to attend as and when he is called, regardless of his social life. He walks a fine line, and this line is getting blurred, and there is something from his past that is fighting to make itself known.
This author does not shy away from descriptions when it comes to torture, beatings and the seedier side of life. This is set in New York, and it has the feel of the city I know from TV, media and the like. The rough apartments, the dodgy coppers and obviously, the gangs or mobs. Peake’s past and present are laid out, and this back-and-forth works really well. It soon becomes more dangerous than even Peake could ever have been aware of. The author doesn’t hold back! It has left me definitely wanting to know more and follow him into other escapades.
This is a fabulous intro to a new series with a character who has a dodgy moral compass, but sort of for the right reasons! It is a thriller that delves into the life of a soldier, one who has been kicked out and is merely looking to exist. Excellent book and one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Standing Stone on the Moor by Allie Cresswell. This is the latest book in The Talbot series and I adored it. To be fair, I have adored everything I have read by this author.
My huge thanks to Allie for contacting me to read this book. My review is my own.
Yorkshire, 1845.
Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.
Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.
Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.
Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?
As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.
The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?
MY REVIEW
I adore this author and I have read several of her books. My favourite is Tall Chimneys, it is the first book to be written and was supposed to be a stand alone. I am so glad that this turned out not to be the case.
Given that this series has been written out of order as such, it is still an amazing one to read. It means each story is like reading a standalone,, but when you read them in order of publication it fills in gaps, extends the characters and their history and is just an amazing reading experience.
Rather than the manor house of Tall Chimneys, this is set around the gatehouse of the manor and also up on the moors. The basic existence of Beth and her brother Frank is enough for them, they are well liked, they have a purpose and also they have a role of looking after the Manor and the grounds.
This is all thrown into turmoil when a group of Irish refugees set up camp by the standing stone on the moor. They had no choice but to leave Ireland due the famine, they would have remained but starvation and death was not an option. Instead they travel, work on local farms, doing odd jobs and then moving on. However, they did not move on quickly enough from the moor, they became isolated as winter and malevolent gossips start warning of witchcraft, sorcery and of wanton women.
I absolutely adored this story and it is great to be back on the moor and tall Chimneys. The author has such a wonderful way of writing and it is very evocative and she adds so much drama to her tales. She does have a similarity to stories like Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Wuthering Heights. She definitely has an affinity to this period of history.
The characters in this book are wide ranging, and they all have their place and role to play. There are main characters and the reader is taken back and forth between them. Given this vast cast and the moving back and forth, the whole story just flows effortlessly.
Their is a lot of drama and intrigue and as I was reading I soon found myself liking certain characters over others. Some are quietly strong, others flippant and then there is the odd weaker character. But with this there does come surprises and there are several instore for readers of this book.
The author has created another wonderful episode in The Talbot series, (The Talbots are the owners of Tall Chimneys). The research is great and if you read the authors notes at then end of the book you will get a better understanding of the how this series came about.
This is a story that takes the reader through village life, superstition, intrigue, mystery and drama. There is romance, but not straight-forward and with several twists. There is suspicion and intrigue and it was an absolute pleasure to read.
If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is a book and author you need to have on your radar. A fabulous story and one I would definitely recommend.
Author Bio
Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil.
She did a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London.
She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. She taught literature to lifelong learners but nowadays she writes full time.
She has two grown-up children, three granddaughters, two grandsons and two cockapoos—but just one husband—Tim. They live in Cumbria, NW England.
The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.
Purchase link to the book on Amazon.US – Amazon UK – On Books – Or to buy direct as an eBook
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Kill Them with Kindness by Will Carver. This is a superb story that I adored, mixing speculative, mystery, thriller, humour, sci-fi, and so much more into a twisted and thought-provoking book.
My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book via Orenda Books Publisher.
MY REVIEW
I do enjoy a story that has glimpses of what could have happened. Speculative fiction is a good genre, and if done right, it can make for interesting reading.
This story is one that mirrors and also mentions coronavirus. The author has a great sense of humour, albeit dark, when it comes to portraying some of his characters. As I was reading, I was able to envisage those people, and it did make me chuckle. Kill Them with Kindness is a brilliant title for an obscure, twisted and addictive speculative fiction and thriller.
Dr Haruto Ikeda, a virologist, is tasked with creating a virus; he also creates another one. Both are planned to be released, but one is sanctioned while the other isn’t! Conspiracy theorists are going to love this book! As one of the viruses is running rampant, there are noticeable changes. Not everyone dies, not everyone believes it is a natural event and believe it or not, some don’t believe in there being a virus at all! Sounds kinda familiar.
The author has a wonderful way of portraying some of the characters and how they interact with others; there is a certain amount of finger-pointing, disbelief and shock. But how has the wrong virus emerged, and what can be done to control it? The author takes the reader through the story alternating between characters, countries, theories and what the great god Google has to reveal. Armchair experts, those in denial, those who think they know better than the expert, again, all very familiar. But with this, there is still death and the threat of death. The unknown and the power play and political opinion from the main players on the global field.
What the author does with this book is take something we have lived through and then twist it superbly. It doesn’t focus on covid, but instead on this manmade virus and all the drama and politics that come with it. Some of the characters are quiet and unassuming, getting in with their daily lives, while others are up front and live on TV, making their opinions known.
This book has several twists, the major one completely threw me, and it was not what I had expected. I did have various scenarios in my head, but, as happened before with this author, I was way off the mark.
If you are a fan of speculative thrillers, fiction, sci-fi, dystopian and twisted stories, then this is a book you should really have a look at. It is deceivingly clever and addictive. There are many layers to this story, as it is entertaining but also thought-provoking, with a dark humour and a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek that looks at human nature. Fabulous reading and one I would definitely recommend.
Check out the other stops on the tour…
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Over the Sea to Skye by Sue Moorcroft. This is the third book in The Skye Sisters trilogy. This is a wonderful story of family and friendship.
My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy from Avon Books UK.
One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…LOSE YOURSELF FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN THIS ESCAPIST, ROMANTIC READ ABOUT FOUND FAMILY FROM THE MILLION-COPY AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
Join Valentina Wynter in the final book of The Skye Sisters Trilogy as she embarks on a summer journey that will change her life forever…
Over the Sea to Skyeis a moving tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the bonds that tie us together, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye.
MY REVIEW
This is the 3rd book in The Skye Sisters Trilogy. I have read a few of this author’s books before, but somehow missed this trilogy.
There are mentions of the sisters and some events that I am assuming come from the previous books. The sister had been adopted, this book focuses on Valentina. She is the eldest of the three sisters and has arrived back on Skye for the summer with her 7-year-old son, Barnaby. There has been some upheaval in her life recently as her husband has left her with one of her work colleagues.
Also, visiting the Island is Xander and in tow is MacDonald. It is a chance for Xander to give MacDonald’s mum a break and also for him to take a break from his hectic job in the US. Xander is visiting Skye to hopefully find his roots.
A bumpy start for Xander sees Valentina coming to his aid. Staying on the same island, they are bound to meet up again, and a friendship forms. Valentina is getting her head around being a single parent and is going to try and work out what the future holds for her.
The author has created a wonderful, heart-warming story; the island sounds idyllic, and the setting and scenery sound perfect. While I have not read the previous books, I get the sense that they would have been good, as there is a genuine warmth and sense of family in this last book. It does read very well as a stand-alone, but I do wish I had read these in order.
This is a story that has heart but also a lot of drama, soul searching, and being honest with oneself. There is not a huge cast of characters, but the ones there are soon become memorable, some more so than others. Not all are likeable, but that just adds to the story and the tension of the situations and events that the author has created.
This is a wonderful story and I would suggest reading this trilogy in order, but as I mentioned, it works well as a stand-alone. This is a popular author and the books I have read, are wonderful, this is another that just makes for addictive reading. If you are a fan of contemporary fiction, romance and family then this is one you should have a look at. It is one I would definitely recommend.
Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Yvonne - Me and My Books