After The End by Clare Mackintosh

I read this book back in February after I was sent an advance copy of After The End by the author. She also set up a Facebook page for all those who received a copy - to chat about the plot, the characters, the cover and everything in between.

Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. They're best friends, lovers—unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can't agree. They each want a different future for their son. 

What if they could have both?

A gripping and propulsive exploration of love, marriage, parenthood, and the road not taken, After the End brings one unforgettable family from unimaginable loss to a surprising, satisfying, and redemptive ending and the life they are fated to find. With the emotional power of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, Mackintosh helps us to see that sometimes the end is just another beginning.

I don't want to give the story line away as this is really a book you should read yourself. But safe to say this is a thought provoking read and makes you think what would you have done in the same situation - you can see both sides of the story highlighted by both Mum and Dad Pip and Max who have differing points of view. What would you do if your opinion was the polar opposite of that of your partner - and there is no middle ground? This book will stay with me for quite a while. It did take me a little while to get into the chapters written from the points of view of the main characters. Very different from this authors usual books - which are also brilliant.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

It's been a long, long time since I joined in with this meme. Hopefully it will motivate my reading - and possibly mean I add even more books to my tbr pile.

What I read last week:

Both very different books but both very enjoyable.

What I am reading now:

A new author to me - started off well but not sure about it just at the moment.

Up next:

I need to read this one next as a review is due shortly - love her books.

Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop

I am quite new to The Pigeonhole. I have requested and received a few titles but non of which really grabbed me mainly because they weren't my cup of tea - but sometimes it's good to try something new.


The name Victoria Hislop was familiar to me but I don't think I had read anything by her before. I was expecting a  something along the lines of a historical saga and that is what I got along with a whole lot more. Those Who Are Loved is her 5th novel I think.

Her writing is beautiful and atmospheric, going into detail with emotion and feeling. I know from reading the back covers of her other books that this is the part of the world she writes about most often and she obviously knows her subject. I have to say I knew very little about modern Greek history before I read this title and Victoria certainly brought it to life through the family and it's day to day struggles through this harsh period in the countrys history. You knew from the beginning that the patriarch had a history but I wasn't prepared for quite how brutal her life had been. Quite an eye opener.

I have now acquired a couple of Victoria's earlier books and look forward to reading them.

Thank you to The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this title and it was fun reading along with everyone else although at times I so wanted to carry on with the story at the end of the stave. #thosewhoareloved

Old friends

Dave and Sandy were our neighbours down in Haverfordwest shortly after we got married. And as we have been married almost 29 years this year they are some of out oldest and dearest friends.

Those friends who it doesn't matter that you haven't seen them for months or years. You just pick up where you left off like you had seen each other just last week.

Dave and Sandy are up for a few days on holiday before Sandy has a hip replacement op on Friday. We took their 4 dogs for a couple of laps around Duffus Castle - somewhere I hadn't been for ages even though it is on the doorstep.

Blowing away the cobwebs.

Blimey - I haven't been here in a looooong time. Will I remember how to blog?


What things have changed since my last post almost 2 years ago?


I still read lots and this is the main reason for resurrecting this blog - I did try to start up a new blog over on Wordpress - but technology got the better of me so I came back to what I thought I knew. I have discovered Netgalley in a big way and my tbr pile has grown out of all proportion - so a majority of my reading takes place on my kindle.


I still run - although not as much and at a much slower pace. Still enjoying it and am heavily involved in my local parkrun. Never thought I would ever join a gym but I did at the start of the year and can be found there multiple times a week.

Photography has taken a back seat of late - just don't have the time. Make plenty of use of the camera on my phone though.


So I'm back. Hoping to take part in a few book blog tours this year and see what all that is about.

Today's drama is all about the blackbird nest in a fierce in our front garden. We only discovered it a couple of days ago. Not the best thing to have when your house is home to 3 cats! This morning g we woke to find the babies trying to fledged so all cats are confined to barracks for the time being. Please send positive thought for their safekeeping.