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.

At least I think it is Monday!!

What I read last week.

What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next.

Audio - Sue Watson

Readalong - Paige Toon, Sue Moorcroft and Kitty Wilson

Pigeonhole - Freya North

New Friends by Daniel Hurst

 

They are fun, wealthy, fabulous. Pray you never meet them.

Becky and Jamie are an ordinary hard-working couple trapped in the daily grind, dreaming of an easier life. On one of their rare vacations, they meet a wealthy couple, Phil and Mel, who seem to have it all – they are fun, well travelled, and very generous with their money.

But they are also very, very dangerous.

Because Phil and Mel are not who they say they are. And this is no random vacation friendship, they have chosen Jamie and Becky carefully, seducing them with the promise of a lifestyle just like theirs.

By the time Jamie and Becky realise what their new friends really want, it’s too late, they’ve lost everything, their hopes and dreams lie shattered.

The only question now is how far will they go to get even?

The New Friends – the stunning psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Passenger, The Boyfriend, The Promotion.

What did I think?

The only books I have read by Daniel Hurst so far are his 20 minute series - and I am only about 6 books in so far. But I am really enjoying them - love the storylines, the characters and the writing style. I was hoping New Friends would be just as good.

And I wasn't disappointed. It was a chilling read - fast paced and full of drama. The story centers around a con trick and you think you know in which direction the story is going - but Daniel proved me wrong in more ways than once.

Dar and evil is how I would describe this book - and it was one that kept my interest from the first page to the very last.

I really don't know how Daniel Hurst manages to write so many books in quick succession but still maintain the quality of his writing. He has done it again.

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.

What I read last week.

Only managed to finish 1 book this week - but that's better than last week. And it was a lovely one.

What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next.

Readalong - Jessica Redland, Paige Toon, Kitty Wilson and Sue Moorcroft

Bookclub - Ambrose Parry

The Lost Promise of Ireland by Susanne O'Leary

 

A completely gorgeous story about lost loves and small-town secrets that will sweep you away to the Irish coast. 

Maggie remembers her summers in the village of Sandy Cove in Ireland like they were yesterday. She and her family would swim in the crystal-clear waters, collect beautiful seashells and relax on the sand. So when she sees that her family’s old coastguard cottage is available, she wonders if renting it for the summer will finally help her move on from the man who just broke her heart

 

As soon as Maggie arrives she is delighted to find her childhood best-friend Sorcha and Sorcha’s cousin Brian still living in town. They enjoy cosy nights in the local harbour pub, with its stunning views across the ocean, as if no time has passed. And when Brian reveals he had a fierce teenage crush on Maggie, she can’t help but notice just how handsome he has become. 

But then Maggie finds a worn metal box hidden in the attic of the house, full of love letters she exchanged with a sweet American boy she met one summer. During their last night together, star-gazing on the beach, they promised to find each other again. Soon it becomes clear that Maggie is not the only one returning to Sandy Cove.

 Torn between her growing feelings for Brian and the romance she’s held in her heart for many years, Maggie realises that her summer may be more complicated than she’d expected. Will Maggie finally find a true love who can sweep her off her feet or will this holiday in Sandy Cove be her last?

What did I think?

I have really been enjoying the Starlight Cottages series and this is the third book - which I have really been looking forward to.

I enjoyed revisiting Sandy Cove - this time with Maggie who has returned to a place which held lots of memories for her from years gone by. She rekindles a friendship with Brian but then stumbles across some letters from her first love.

Love the setting of Sandy Cove - a village where everyone knows each other and is willing to help out when needed. Sounds quite idyllic.

I have a soft spot for books set in Ireland and this one hit the spot. Hoping there will be another installment of the series to come.

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than 20 novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. 

The wife of a former diplomat, she has also been a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a rambling house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or doing yoga, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoroleary

Twitter: https://twitter.com/susl

Website: http://www.susanne-oleary.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanne.olearyauthor/

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09FY24WHKsocial 

Apple: http://ow.ly/xgFS50GaeQr 

Kobo: http://ow.ly/R4yh50GaeMY 

Google: http://ow.ly/FKQs50GaeRZ 

Why She Left by Leah Mercer

 

When I open the door and see her, my mind starts churning. Why are they here? What do they want? And why did my daughter leave in the first place? Am I finally, after all of these years, going to find out? I take a deep breath and usher them in…

Ruth has spent every day of the last fifteen years wondering why her daughter Isobel left. Walking around the school to which she has given her life, every child she sees reminds her of her family’s bright future which vanished in an instant.

So when Ruth opens the door to find Isobel and a teenage grandson she never knew existed, she feels a rush of relief. Despite the years of hurt she never stopped loving Isobel and wants to help rebuild her life. Enrolling her grandson at the school, Ruth wants to make sure they stay for good.

Isobel has spent her life running from a painful secret. A secret which could have destroyed her family. Now, as she flees a bad relationship, she knows that her childhood home is the only place where she can be safe.

But as Isobel looks at her son in his crisp new uniform, she is taken straight back to the reason she ran all those years ago. Soon it becomes clear that she is not the only one tormented by the past. Someone is prepared to destroy everything Ruth and Isobel hold dear. Can Isobel confront her darkest secret before it is too late?

From the bestselling author of Who We Were Before comes a powerful and emotional page-turner about devastating family secrets. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Emily Bleeker and Imogen Clark.

What did I think?

I love Leah's books - she is one of those authors who I know I don't need to read the blurb to know I am going to like it.

The premise sounded really interesting - why did her daughter leave - and why has she come back?

This book just got better and better the more I read. What happened at the school to make Isobel leave? What is happening now to her son at the same school. So many questions.

Plenty to keep me interested right till the last page.

 

About Leah Mercer

 

Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a master’s in journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing… fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.

 

Social media:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahmercerauthor/ @leahmercerauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeahMercer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeahMercerBooks @leahmercerbooks

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.

What I read last week.

Didn't manage to finish a book last week - can't remember the last time that happened.

What I'm reading now.

What I'm going to read next.

Readalong - Jessica Redland, Paige Toon, Sue Moorcroft and Kitty Wilson

Bookclub - Ambrose Parry

The Golden Girl's Getaway by Judy Leigh

 

It has been a long and lonely year for neighbours Vivienne, Mary and Gwen. All ladies of a ‘certain age’, their lockdown experience has left them feeling isolated and alone. They are in desperate need of a change.

Things start to look up however, when Gwen comes up with a plan to get them out of London by borrowing a motor home. In no time at all the ladies are on the road – away from the city, away from their own four walls, and away from their worries.

The British countryside has never looked more beautiful. As they travel from Stonehenge to Dartmoor, from the Devon and Cornish coasts to the Yorkshire moors, gradually the years fall back, and the three friends start to imagine new futures with no limitations.

And as their journey continues and their friendships deepen, and while the seaside views turn into glorious mountains and moors, Mary, Vivienne and Gwen learn to smile again, to laugh again, and maybe even to love again. Now they can believe that the best is still to come…

What did I think?

I love Judys books - they just shout out a fun read to me. Doesn't that cover shout out to you too?

What I love about her books and what makes them stand out from the crowd is the age of her main characters - they are slightly more mature than those in your average rom com. You are never too old to have fun.

This book does touch on the current 'pandemic' and its associated restrictions but it does so in a light hearted way. They last thing I want to read is something depressing about the current situation - even if my works Christmas party has been cancelled tonight!! It follows 'the golden girls' as they pack their bags and head off for an adventure.

This is a fantastic fun read - guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens , A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Website http://judyleigh.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/judyleighwriter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/judyrleigh/

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/JudyLeighNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judy-leigh

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/2YoGDsk

Daughters of Magpie Cove by Kennedy Kerr

 

Connie stared out at the quiet Cornish sea as the hazy early morning light bathed the horizon in a beautiful golden glow. She inhaled the salty, cleansing ocean air, looked down at the handwritten note and wiped away the lone tear that had started to fall…

When Connie Christie’s mother summons her home from the city to Magpie Cove to take over the family business – a quaint, charming museum – Connie is reluctant. The cove holds nothing more than bad memories for Connie, memories she’d rather leave buried…

The tiny coastal museum is a hub for the local community but it is struggling to survive, and despite herself, Connie is determined to save the business that has been in her family for generations. Discovering her great-grandmother’s diary tucked away in a dusty box in the attic – which reveals her struggles as a young woman – gives Connie a surprising clue to unlocking the secrets in her own past. Maybe what happened to her all those years ago wasn’t her fault after all?

Connie starts to relish her work at the museum and the beautiful, calm surroundings of Magpie Cove. A chance encounter with handsome local entrepreneur, Alex Gordon, leaves her with more than just butterflies. Perhaps embracing a new start in her old home maybe isn’t the worst idea she’s ever had.

But just as Connie starts to feel like she finally belongs somewhere, the peace she has found crumbles when the one person she has tried for years to forget resurfaces… Can Connie finally find her home, and herself, in Magpie Cove, or will her painful past force her to run away again, this time for good?

From USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr comes a heartfelt, emotional read, set on the beautiful coast of Cornwall. Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Pamela Kelley will adore it.

What did I think?

This is the third book in the Magpie Cove series.

The book is filled with the most wonderful characters and the most gorgeous setting. Once I started reading this book I really didn't want to put it down. The characters feel like old friends and it was great to meet up with them again. This book will transport you to the wild and windswept coast of Cornwall

 

Kennedy Kerr has written and published poetry, children's and adult books. She lives in London and is originally from the West Country, which gave her accent a subtle (yet noticeable) pirate twang as well as a love of cream teas and all things mystical.

Kennedy loves mythology, magic, tarot, pretty much most music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, luxury skincare products, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She is the proud owner of a cuddly black cat called Twinkle, who evidently believes she is a princess. Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it.

A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm by Helen J Rolfe

 

It's almost Christmas in Heritage Cove - the village tree is all lit-up, the bakery is full of festive treats, the tea rooms and waffle shack are welcoming locals inside out of the cold, and for some of the residents of the Cove, snow might not be the only thing they're wishing for this year...

Tilly is overjoyed when an estranged relative comes to Heritage Cove wanting to make amends. But as she lets him in to her life and Tilly’s Bits ‘n’ Pieces - the shop she owns and loves - her friends aren’t so sure whether everything is quite as it seems.

Benjamin’s parents run Mistletoe Gate Farm, selling Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe. Benjamin has always thought his family was as firmly rooted in the ground as the rows of Norway Spruce and Fraser Firs. But when he finds a letter that rocks his world he realises he may not be able to do anything to prevent the changes coming their way.

Benjamin and Tilly have been falling for one another since the summer but will family complications put an abrupt stop to what is looking like a burgeoning romance?

With festive cheer weaving its way through the Cove as two local favourites plan their wedding, there’s more than one relationship that could receive a little Christmas magic…

What did I think?

I love Helen's books and I love books with a Christmas theme - so I knew I was onto a winner with this one.

This is the 4th book in the Heritage Cove series but don't let that put you off if you haven't read the earlier books as this one works well as a standalone title.

I loved recognizing the familiar faces of Heritage Cove - feels a bit like returning home. 

This is a perfect festive read. I loved the idea of Tilly's shop - packed full of all the bits and pieces you need for Christmas. And the Christmas tree farm sounds simply magical.

This book has it all - love and relationships plus a wedding to organise in the run up to Christmas.

 Plenty to keep your interest from start to finish - a delightful heartwarming story

Helen J Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfewriter
https://twitter.com/HJRolfe
www.helenjrolfe.com

https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/helen-j-rolfe

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BRF5KDF

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BRF5KDF

Winging It by Emma Murray

 

When her husband David announces he’s been offered a job in New York, Saoirse is thrilled. The glamour of the big city, the shopping, the culture, not to mention the free Manhattan apartment and business class air fare – what’s not to like? There’s just the small matter of making it work for their daughter, five-year-old Anna, who isn’t so keen to leave her friends and school behind.

The Big Apple in the middle of summer isn’t quite the holiday Saoirse envisaged, and with David away with work, New York apartment sizes on the miniscule side, and the pace of life faster than the sleepy London suburbs, solo ex-pat parenting pushes Saoirse to her limits.

And as the pressure builds and ‘faking it till she makes it’ isn’t cutting it, there’s only one thing for it – Saoirse and Anna need a new plan, and ‘Winging It’ might be their best option…

Emma Murray returns with this laugh-out-loud funny, compulsively page-turning

What did I think?

Emma is a new author to me and when I started reading I didn't realise it was the third book in a series. I suppose it might have been better to have read the first 2 books prior to reading this one ( I have downloaded them) but I did think it worked well as a standalone title.

The story follows Saoirse (how do you actually pronounce that name??) and her family as they move from England to New York. It was an amusing light read - well written characters and plenty of humour and drama along the way.

I loved Saoirse and I can't wait to catch up with her again in Time Out and The Juggle.  I loved Emmas writing style - it really drew me in.

Emma Murray is originally from Co. Dublin and moved to London in her early twenties. After a successful career as a ghostwriter, she felt it was high time she fulfilled her childhood dream to write fiction.

Social Media Links

Website http://www.emmamurray.net/blog-2/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014092634921

Twitter https://twitter.com/murrayemma

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmamurrayauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/EmmaMurrayNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emma-murray

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3lmiFXT