Book Review – Friend Request by Laura Marshall – Buddy Read

Tags

book review, bookreview, Buddy Read, crime, psychological thriller

 

When this came up on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it and was delighted to join Zuky@BookBum in a buddy read. It was great fun discussing the characters, plot and possible reveals. You can read Zuky’s review as well as mine in this post.

 

When Louise Williams receives a message from someone left long in the past she feels sick.

Maria Weston wants to be friends on Facebook.

Because Maria Weston has been missing for over twenty years. She was last seen the night of a school leavers’ party, and the world believes her to be dead. Particularly Louise, who has lived her adult life knowing herself responsible for Maria’s disappearance. But now Maria is back. Or is she?

As Maria’s messages start to escalate, Louise forces herself to reconnect with the old friends she once tried so hard to impress, to try to piece together exactly what happened that fateful night. But when another friend’s body turns up in the woods outside their old school, Louise realises she can’t trust anyone and that she must confront her own awful secret to discover the whole truth of what happened to Maria . . .

My Review 

So, what would you do if someone you’d gone to school with, but had sadly died years ago, sends you a friend request on Facebook? Would you accept it or would you immediately think it couldn’t be possible and delete it? I know it would freak me out and probably make me stay away from Facebook for days, but of course that wouldn’t make a fast paced psychological thriller though, would it?

This started off really creepily and had me flipping the pages on my device so quickly I couldn’t get enough of it.  As the story developed and Louise, the main character, became more unsure of what was going on, I really like the way it was headed. As with reading any thriller there were so many suspects amongst the cast of minor characters, but that also meant that there were probably lots of red herrings. This was a great way to draw me in and had me constantly wondering changing my mind as to what was going on.

Unfortunately for me as got past the half way mark I got very irritated with the main character’s emotions, and the way she was behaving, making some of the plot rather far-fetched. I kept reading though because I really wanted to find out what was going on. The first twist was okay, but towards the end of the book, the second twist felt like it was from a different book, with something much darker going on that I personally felt didn’t fit in with the original story.

Even though I was disappointed I still think this would a good book if you don’t normally read this genre.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, and Little Brown Group UK, Sphere for my digital copy.

Zuky’s Review

Honestly, I went into this one just because I needed to read it before publication, but I wasn’t exactly excited about it. I just thought it was going to be another throwaway thriller – fun while I was reading it, but nothing special. I was certainly surprised when I went into it and it sucked me in straight away! Unfortunately, its ending was a major let down and I can’t see me using this as a recommendation when someone asks.

One of the great things about this novel is that there are lots of characters to try and pin the blame on. You think you’re happy with a theory you’ve come up with and then all of a sudden something pops up with someone else and you get suspicious again. I love novels like this where you can’t make up your mind on who you think the bad guy is!

I also enjoyed the writing in this one. I’m not saying it’s anything super special, it’s reasonably simple and there aren’t a lot of beautiful descriptions of things, but it’s easy to read and definitely keeps you reading. I also thought the characters in this novel were very believable which isn’t always the easiest to do, so props to Marshall for that!

Now, for the negative. Agh, both me and Nicki were so disappointed by the ending of this one! Personally, I felt that all the build up to the reveal led to something very mediocre. Nicki came up with such an excellent ending about Maria that I was so sure she had got it right because it would have been amazing! But, alas, It was not what we thought and turned out to be something much more boring.

I don’t want to give anything away by saying too much but at the end, there are two reveals and one of them felt like it was put into the story just for the sake of having another “dun, dun, dunnn” moment. It was still good for concluding the novel but it was a bit left field.

I also think some parts of the book dragged out a bit and could have been edited back. It would have been punchier and quicker had a few bits been taken out.

I don’t hate this novel, but I also don’t love it. It was definitely a page turner to begin with, but it slowly got less interesting and then ended on a downer. I would have definitely given it 4 stars had it not been for the ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Review : English Lessons by Andrea Lucado @christianaudio

Tags

audiobook, book review, christianaudio, memoir

 

The Book

The Questions Would Teach Her More Than the Answers

It wasn’t long after arriving in Oxford for graduate school that twenty-two-year-old Andrea Lucado – preacher’s daughter from Texas – faced not only culture shock, a severe lack of coffee, but also some unexpected hard questions: Who am I? Who is God? Why do I believe what I believe?
 
“So many nights in Oxford, I felt like the details of my faiths were getting fuzzier. Nights turned restless with the questions and the thoughts. I questioned God’s existence and the doubt, it was getting into my bones….”
 
In this engaging memoir, Andrea speaks to all of us who wrestle with faith, doubt, and spiritual identity. Join Andrea as she navigates the Thames River, the Oxford Atheist Society, romance in ancient pubs—and a new perspective on who God is. As Andrea learned, sometimes it takes letting go of old ideas to discover lasting truth.
The church wasn’t just a part of Andrea Lucado’s childhood. It was her childhood. It provided more than happy moments. It provided an invitation to know Jesus.

When Andrea arrived in England the year after she graduated from college, she expected to meet God there. What she didn’t expect was that God would be much bigger than she knew.
 
In English Lessons, Andrea takes us through the roads of England and the paths of the soul. Here she explores the journey of a changing faith and an unchanging God—and why growing up starts with realizing just how small we are.

My Thoughts

I’m a sucker for anything to do with Oxford, having had a family member live there for many years, so when I saw this audiobook available for review I jumped at the chance. It’s a lovely short memoir beautiful written in a poetic style making it a delightful listen. As I Brit listening to an American struggle with a new country, language and culture I cringed at times but also laughed as she got to grips with it all.

Sometimes when an author reads their own book it doesn’t always work for me, as they can seem unsure and rather mechanical. Fortunately Andrea Lucado read this perfectly, full of emotion as if she was reliving each moment as she was reading. I particularly enjoyed her recollections of giving up caffeine for Lent, going along to the Oxford Atheist Society, and getting used to living without a microwave.

I definitely recommend this for anyone going off to college or moving to a different country. I think it would work really well in a youth group setting and make the perfect  gift for a new student.

Thanks so much to christianaudio.com’s reviewers program for my free copy.

Book Review: The Women of the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

Tags

book review, Germany, readers first, WW2

“A resistance widow. A silent co-conspirator. The only one who survived.

Bavaria, Germany. June, 1945.

The Third Reich has crumbled. The Russians are coming.
Can Marianne von Lingenfels and the women in her care survive and build their ravaged world anew?

Marianne – widow of a resistor to the Nazi regime – returns to the grand, crumbling castle where she once played host to all of German high society. She assembles a makeshift family from the ruins of her husband’s movement, rescuing her dearest friend’s widow, Benita, from sexual slavery to the Russian army, and Ania from a work camp for political prisoners. She is certain their shared past will bind them together.

But as Benita begins a clandestine relationship and Ania struggles to conceal her role in the Nazi regime, Marianne learns that her clear-cut, highly principled world view has no place in these new, frightening and emotionally-charged days.

All three women must grapple with the realities they now face, and the consequences of decisions each made in the darkest of times . . .”

My Thoughts

I’ve read many fictional and biographical accounts covering the war years and so I was very keen to read this new account told from the perspective of German women. It really was a very powerful story, told very well by the author who took seven years of researching and delving into her own family history to write it. I  imagine that there are innumerable women of German descent who have this same history and many that have never spoken it out loud or shared it beyond their own family circles.

I enjoyed this a lot, although it wasn’t always a comfortable read, as at times it felt more memoir than historical fiction. I was fascinated by the historical details learning so much about the ordinary Germans, those caught up with Hitler’s promises of a new united nation and those appalled at what he was doing.  It does flip between eras with the main character’s stories so I was very glad to have a print copy as it meant it was easier to look back on dates in the time line of the story.

The main characters and their struggles felt so real, making me wonder if they are based on any particular women that the author knows. Being an idealist myself I could identify more with Marianne than Ania or Benita, I really felt for her as tried to uphold the promise she made to her oldest friend.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in the era and wants a different perspective on the subject.

Thanks so much to Readers First for my hardback copy, which really did add to my reading experience.

Book review: Sandpiper Cove by Irene Hannon

Tags

audiobook, book review, christian, christianaudio

Blurb From Goodreads

 

“Hope Harbor police chief Lexie Graham has plenty on her plate raising her son alone and dealing with a sudden rash of petty theft and vandalism in her coastal Oregon home town. As a result, she has zero time for extracurricular activities–including romance.

 

Ex-con Adam Stone isn’t looking for love either–but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief? Yet wishing for things that can never be is foolish.

Nevertheless, when Lexie enlists Adam’s help to keep a young man from falling into a life of crime, sparks begin to fly. And as they work together, it soon becomes apparent that God may have a different–and better–future planned for them than either could imagine.”

My Thoughts

This started off quite well for me and I was hoping for an uplifting listen. I liked the story with the theme of second chances which was running through it and I loved all the parts with Clyde the dog. I really enjoyed the brilliant narration by Therese Plummer,  as she brought all the characters, male and female, young and old to life.

Unfortunately though I gave up about a third of they way through when the inner dialogue for both main characters were just too repetitive to keep listening. If this had been in a different format, I would’ve skimmed those parts, but I ended up muttering ‘enough’ to both Lexi and Adam whenever they kept talking to themselves about why they shouldn’t be getting serious with each other.

I also found the Christian message was a bit too preachy for me and spoilt the story.

I’m sure if you enjoy romances with a strong Christian message you’d enjoy this. Unfortunately this audiobook just wasn’t for me at this time.

Thanks so much to christianaudio.com Reviewer’s Program for my free copy.

Book Review: One Italian Summer by Keris Stainton

Tags

@bookblogger, book review, bookreview, family life, italy, readers first, sisters, travel

“It’s been a year since Milly, Elyse and Leonie’s dad died, and a year since their last trip to Rome. Summer’s here again, and once again they are heading with their mum to Italy – but what’s it going to be like going without Dad? Rome still holds its familiar charms – the sun is still as warm, the gelato as delicious, the people as welcoming. But nothing is quite as it once was …

With grief still raw for all of them, Milly is facing the additional awfulness of having to see Luke again – gorgeous, gorgeous Luke, who she had a fling with last year, and who she made a total fool of herself with – or so she thinks. What’s going to happen this time? What’s more, things between Milly, her sisters and their mum are rocky – Leonie is being tempestuous and unpredictable, Elyse is caught up with her new boyfriend, and Milly feels like she just doesn’t know how she fits in any more. Over one Italian summer, can Milly find a way back to the life she once had?”

 

This was a real change for me as I don’t normally read YA books, but once I got myself into Young Adult mode it made a nice change to read something fun and romantic.

The Rome setting really worked and characters felt real with all the sisters squabbling at times and then having fun together. I must admit I did a little bit confused with the sisters ages and couldn’t remember who was the oldest, middle and youngest.

I could sympathise with Milly’s wild imagination and wanting to keep everyone safe and also with their Mum keeping herself busy at work following the death of her husband.

I think it would make a great book group read especially for teenagers and families as there are themes of grief, relationships and LGBTQ running through it. It’s perfect for lovers of YA and romance.

Thanks to Reader’s First for my paperback copy which added to my reading experience.

Book Review: See You In September by Charity Norman

Tags

book review, bookreview, Charity Norman, favourites, new favourite author, New Zealand, paperback, readers first

See You In September by Charity Norman is a contemporary novel told by Cassy and her mother Diana.

Cassy takes a break from university studies to go travelling around New Zealand with her boyfriend Hamish. They plan to be back in the UK for Cassy’s best friend’s wedding in September, hence the title. They haven’t been gone long when circumstances cause them to go their separate ways. Cassy is drenched and fed up whilst trying to hitch them both a ride, but instead takes a lift from a group of very friendly  people in a beat up old van. They’re from a farming collective living self sufficiently off the land in a beautiful valley only approachable by boat.

It’s all idyllic and seems the perfect place to spend the rest of her break before returning home for the wedding. The community are so positive and loving completely different to her stressed out life and planned future faraway in London.

So begins this absorbing read that took me on an incredible journey with Cassy in New Zealand and her family back in London. The story from Cassy’s point of view and her mother Diana is also interspersed with extracts from a cult leaders manual with the steps to get your recruit fully on board with the cults beliefs.

MY THOUGHTS

I was hooked from the first page as the author took me on an gripping journey with Cassy and her family. The setting of the community was idyllic, and I even though it’s a fictional community I could see why Cassy was drawn to it. The descriptions of the farm along with the initial acceptance and positivity from the members sounded the perfect place to escape modern life and it’s technological entrapments.

As a mother of a teenager I really felt for Cassy’s family back home in London and completely sympathised with their fears and desires to rescue her. They felt like a real family who only wanted the best for their daughter before it was all too late.

This is my first book by this author but definitely not my last. I’ll be recommending this to family and friends on my blog and social media.

Book Review: The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn

Tags

@bookblogger, @TripFiction, book review, bookreview, Norway, thriller, travel

Allis a former television presenter finds herself as a housekeeper for Bagge, a moody secretive man living in a forest near a fjord. He tells her his wife will be away for sometime and he needs her to took after the garden and house for him. Allis has her own shameful secrets that weigh her down as she gets to grips with her new position, home and employer.

So begins this incredibly tense thriller set in Norway and the tension does not let up at all. This is a beautifully written and translated book that hooked me from the first page. I was desperate to know the secrets that Bagge was keeping from Allis. Where was his wife? Why was he so moody? Why did he only speak in mono syllables when he did speak?

The setting of the house in a forest on the edge of the fjord is perfect and becomes another character in this moody atmospheric story.

It’s only a short book and so I thought I would whizz through it, but I had to take a breather every now and then as the tension was just too much. Perfect for lovers of psychological thrillers.

Thank you so much to TripFiction for my paperback copy which definitely added to my reading experience

Book Review: Blood Sisters by Jane Corry

Tags

book review, bookreview, nudge.com

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry is an absorbing read about a moment in time that permanently alters the lives of one family. It’s a dual time novel alternately narrated by two sisters, Alison and Kitty, told in the present day and 16 years earlier.

Alison is an art teacher who lives with the desire to right the  wrongs of that fateful day, she doesn’t enjoy life and lives in modest circumstances almost living with a martyr complex. Kitty is mentally and physically disabled living in a care home with only weekly contact from her mother.  Kitty is unable to talk although she makes perfect sense in her own head so her narration is told from her thoughts.

The story was slow to get going but it eventually hooked me and I really wanted to find out exactly what happened on that fateful day. This is a book with lots of layers, twists and turns with the tension building constantly. The Alison and Kitty’s worlds felt so real that even though I’d only been reading for a few minutes I felt like I been ‘gone’ for hours.

I definitely recommend this if you enjoy books about family relationships and family secrets. This was my first book by Jane Corry and certainly won’t be my last.

Thanks so much to nudge-book.com for my paperback copy which really did enhance my reading experience.

Blood Sisters is published by Penguin on 29th June 2017.

Book Review: The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances

Tags

book review, debut, london, netgalley, thriller

“The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgivable lie. It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting. A girl. A boy. His mother. And the lie she’ll wish she’d never told. Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn’t had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura’s life. Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she’s not all that she seems. When tragedy strikes, an unforgivable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.”

 

A very clever story with not particularly likeable characters in it. It was a bit slow to begin with but as I kept reading it got more twisted. My loyalties kept changing between the main characters, one minute I felt sorry for them and the next I despised them. I could image this working well as TV series or a film. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy psychological thrillers. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for my digital copy.

Book Review: The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan

Tags

book review, netgalley, travel

“After Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs to travel around the world, they’re given a yellow envelope containing a check and instructions to give the money away. The only three rules for the envelope: Don’t over think it; share your experiences; don’t feel pressured to give it all away.

Through Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, and beyond, Kim and Brian face obstacles, including major challenges to their relationship. As she distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.”

 

 

I really enjoyed this travel memoir with a difference. I loved the author’s wonderful descriptions of the countries she visited, making me feel as if I was on the journey with her.  Although difficult to read at times,  I did enjoy her honesty about her emotions and feelings toward her husband and their marriage. The dilemma about about who and how to share the yellow envelope money with was fascinating, I could imagine myself feeling the same way in each situation.

I definitely recommend this if you enjoy travel writing and memoirs and for those who enjoyed Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Source books for my digital copy.