Lisa Jewell Appreciation Fan club/book reviews

Are there any other Lisa Jewell fans out there in the thriller world? Do u love her books too? I’m literally lost for words at how much I’ve enjoyed all three of these books.

I started 2020 with so many reading goals but honestly I didn’t even think about reading 3 x 5 star reads by the same author in a row. This just never happens but I loved them all.

The Family Upstairs

5 STARS

This was the first novel by this wonderful author I’d ever picked up and it was a Christmas present. I’d heard so much about it I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the ever growing hype it was getting in the book world. Oh my gosh no it had me gripped from the very first chapter. It made me feel anxious, it was creepy beyond word and like all her books it had me thinking I’d worked out what was going only to realise no actually it’s nothing remotely like what I think. Read it in one sitting and just couldn’t put it down.

I Found You

5 STARS

Next up was one that was lent to me by a friend who I’d told how much I enjoyed the author so it was recommended to me as a great next read. It was every bit as good and again I felt deeply disturbed and creeped out by the story as it unfolded. I cared for the characters too which happens little and often. Again I couldnt bare to put it down and when I realised the ending. I was an emotional wreck. This book did crazy things to my mind. But it was amazing.

Then She Was Gone

5 STARS

The last of the three books I’ve read and I have to say I think with reading the other 2 and getting to know the authors writing style I was able to work out some of the plot twists but I mean this did not take away anything from the book. I was always hoping it wasn’t true and id got it wrong. This book has definately made an impression and me and will stay with me for a while no doubt.

The Cornish Secret of Summer's Promise – Laura Briggs

Maisie Kinnan aka Maisie Clarke is busy with Hotel Penmarrow’s auction event. Mildred Eccleston, an actress turned lady of the manor’s private boudoir is on auction. Jewels, dresses and a few personal items are going to be auctioned. Guests from near and far, a few from high society and a few from the film industry are going to be present at the auction.

Things go wrong when the jewels are stolen and Sidney is accused of stealing them. Maisie is heart-broken. Just when she thought she was falling for Sidney, Bridgette reveals something about Sidney. And the next day, Sidney is accused of theft. Detective Anson, the insurance company’s private eye asks Maisie to help him. He believes that Sidney is innocent. They start to investigate and want to find the real culprit before it is too late. La Fleur, a master thief, is said to be behind the theft. 

This is my first novel by author Laura Briggs and it certainly wont be the last. And lets all mention the fact that this is a detective mystery in a romance novel – How refreshing? I just did a little bit of digging in the library and have managed to find the first book in this series so I cant wait to dive into that one at the weekend.

Many thanks to @rachelsrandomresources for a copy of this wonderful book in return for my honest review.

I am always quite cautious when it comes to reading a series not in the right order so when I realised this was book 2 of the series I did wonder if I would enjoy it as much as if I had read from the start. Would it flow? Would I get the references throughout? Would I know enough about each character? That being said I didn’t have an issue at all with enjoying this book, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and cared about them throughout.

I loved the book, it was light hearted yet serious, witty and funny as well. Its definatley one to curl up on the sofa with on a horrible rainy day. And the ending? Oh My Gosh why must authors do this to me? I was an emotional wreck lol. I already cant wait to see what’s next for Maisie and Sydney.

4 stars

x

Book Details

Title: The Cornish Secret of Summer’s Promise (A Little Hotel in Cornwall #4)

Author: Laura Briggs

Published on: 15th January 2020

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance

Purchase Link (affiliate): Amazon.com

‘ I Found You’ by Lisa Jewell

OK so let me begin this review by saying this is the 2nd novel from this wonderful author I’ve read this year and I’ve given 5 stars to both. This has never happened before.

This book was lent to me by my sister in law after we both read ‘The Family Upstairs’. I’ve since got two other books by this author so I’m on a marathon.

5 stars

This book is intense. It like the others literally suck u in from the first chapter. It’s creepy, it’s weird and it made me feel so anxious. I thought I cud second guess everything that was unfolding but I literally hadn’t a clue. It was a great read. I read it in two sittings over 48 hrs. I’m hooked on this author now lol

Thrillers where always uninteresting to me, they didn’t appeal but my god im obsessed.

Pick this one up if u haven’t read it yet. U will not b disappointed x

2020 Reading Goals

Happy New Year….

This post is some days late but being back to work sucks after being off sick for 2 weeks over Christmas so please bare with me if u will. After lots of reflecting and joyous times over the past year or less on bookstagram I thought it time to actually choose some reading goals for the year ahead. In 2019 I started my instagram, I joined netgalley (not using it as often as I’d like), started to review books and started this wonderful blog which again I need to dedicate more time to, not forgetting the people I’ve met along the way. Lovely people who love to talk about books. My favourite kind of people.

I hope to continue with my blog tours, reviewing books for authors and being approached to review books. I want to dedicate more time to netgalley, Goodreads and this blog. And lastly I want to continue to share book cheer for all to hear.

I hope 2020 is kind to me and everyone who follows my blog. 😊

Lock Every Door – Riley Sager

NO VISITORS.

NO NIGHTS SPENT AWAY FROM THE APARTMENT.

NO DISTURBING THE OTHER RESIDENTS.

These are the only rules for Jules Larson’s new job as apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan’s most high-profile private buildings and home to the rich and famous.

Recently heartbroken and practically homeless, Jules readily accepts the terms, ready to leave her past behind.

Out of place among the extremely wealthy, Jules finds herself drawn towards the other apartment sitter Ingrid. But Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming façade is starting to frighten her. Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story – but the next day her new friend has vanished.

Soon Jules discovers that Ingrid is not the first visitor to go missing…..

My review

First 5 star read of 2020

Oh my lord….
I am relatively new to the whole thriller genre but well what a book to be starting to enjoy it with!!

As always I saw this doing the rounds on IG bookstagram and it was getting 5 stars every single time I saw it, it was featuring in almost every book club I saw online and it was just always there teasing me to read it. So I requested it from the library – can I just say though I loved it so much that I will be purchasing it for my new book case.
Anyway onto the review.

I don’t know what to say, its hard not to give away spoilers with a thriller I find but I couldn’t put this book down, the synopsis did not give away anything of the ending plot line and I certainly got sucked into it from the very first word. It was not what I was expecting at all but really well done to the author. I felt tense the whole way through thinking something was going to happen, guessing what I thought might happen and that not happening but something completely different. It is just a good thriller and one I will be recommending to all my bookworm friends and book lovers.
Get your hands on it if you haven’t already please.

Barbs Book Club Jan 2020

Soooo today has been mostly reflecting on what is coming at the beginning of 2020 for my bookstagram platforms. One thing I’m hosting which I’m excited for is my Book Club on Instagram 😊 the cool thing about it is that members get a chance to vote for what books we read each month of the year.

January sees us starting the year with my most anticipated read of 2020 – The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. Check back in in a few days for my full review xx

Book Review – In the Heart of Windy Pines

Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources again for this wonderful copy in return for an honest review.

From the author of Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women comes a new novella featuring characters from Murder at Mistletoe Manor, Carnage at the Christmas Party, and The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club! Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of Mistletoe Manor in beautiful, remote, Windy Pines, Idaho, where she brings her unique brand of hospitality to the tiny mountain town. When she finds her inn unexpectedly fully booked on a snowy Tuesday night in November, it brings back memories of a tragedy years before. Before she knows what hit her, she and her trusty team of employees (Myrtle, Pierre, and her new night manager, Josephine), have found themselves back at the task of solving another mystery at Mistletoe Manor! While this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novella, if you plan to read the books in the Windy Pines Mystery series or The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club, it’s highly recommended you read those first, as this book contains spoilers that could affect your ability to enjoy them.

Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Windy-Pines-Mystery-Novella-ebook/dp/B07ZFZ618Z
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Windy-Pines-Mystery-Novella-ebook/dp/B07ZFZ618Z

Author Bio –
Holly Tierney-Bedord lives in Madison, Wisconsin. She’s the author of over twenty books including The Woman America Loves a Latte, The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club, and Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women. For more information or to subscribe to Holly’s newsletter, visit http://www.hollytierneybedord.com.
https://twitter.com/HollyTierney
https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Tierney-Bedord/e/B00M3C9W3E
https://www.instagram.com/authorhollytierneybedord/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6433388.Holly_Tierney_Bedord
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/holly-tierney-bedord
https://www.facebook.com/HollyRecommends/

My Review

Rating – 4 stars

Let me begin by saying that this is the first book I have picked up from this author and from the Windy Pines series. The author does state that although this is good a stand alone it is advantageous to read the rest of the books in the series before reaching for this one. I haven’t read any of the previous books but I honestly still really enjoyed the book anyway.

I managed to read this book in one day – as with most novellas they are short but it had my attention near on from the beginning and first chapter. Its definitely perfect for a cool winter night, curled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and blanket.

The characters are so much fun, with a sprinkle of romance thrown in for good measure. Each character is described in a way so you can quickly make up your mind what you think of them and also where they fit into the story.

I very much hope to read more of the Windy Pines series and more from this author in the future and if you are looking for a quick, fun and light hearted novella look no further.

Book Review – Hanukkah At the Great Greenwich Ice Creamery

Thanks as always to the lovely @rachelsradomresources for gifting me a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Synopsis

Hanukkah days, Christmas nights and strawberry ice cream …
Cohen Ford is a man who could do with a little bit of sweetening up. It’s no surprise that when he
walks into The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery on a typically gloomy London day before Christmas, he
insists on a black coffee rather than his childhood favourite – strawberry ice cream.
But then he meets River de Luca, the woman behind the flavours. After their first encounter, Cohen
begins visiting the ice creamery every Tuesday, gradually learning more about the intriguing River.
Could her influence encourage cynical Cohen to become the man who embraces Christmas,
Hanukkah and even strawberry ice cream?

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanukkah-Great-Greenwich-Creamery-heart-warmingebook/
dp/B07ZP92PZ8
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hanukkah-Great-Greenwich-Creamery-heart-warmingebook/
dp/B07ZP92PZ8

Author Bio – Sharon was born in Sydney, Australia but now lives in London with her husband, two
small children and two black cats named for desserts. She started writing ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
fanfiction aged 15, which eventually transformed into the historical romance novels she writes today.
She has two novels published by Choc Lit, and when not writing, can be found baking cakes badly or
drinking wine well.
Social Media Links –
Twitter: @seibbotson
Facebook: Sharon Ibbotson – Author
Instagram: sharonibbotson
Website: sharonibbotson.com

My Review

4 stars

This book was wonderful… It left me wanting to go and buy some ice cream even in the depths of winter in Belfast lol its so refreshing to read a book from a male perspective for a change as most of this genre is made up of the female view.

I loved the relationship between Cohen and River, and being a part of how it changed and grew. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter and having read some really great books this year I honestly can say I will read this book again and enjoy it even more. It tells the story of friendship, faith, families and relationships and shows a different side to a romantic story.

This book was fantastic and a must read for all.

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