Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash @KimTheBookworm @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #fiction #romance #bookreview

I have been waiting an age to share my review for this book and today I finally can 🙂 here is my review of Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash. This is the 3rd book in the Cornish Cove series and her latest book is another wonderful addition.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever.

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dancefloor.

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too…

MY REVIEW

What another fabulous book in the Cornish Cove series this one is. Returning to some of the characters to catch up with things going on in their lives as well as learning more about them and newer characters is great.

This one focuses on Lydia, she is Meredith’s mum and they have reconnected after many years. There is a past that gradually emerges and it is a chance for pasts to be dealt with. Lydia is enjoying being in her 70s and she is a very capable lady who does not feel old and has plenty of things to look forward to. She is given the chance for some new opportunities and a chance to do something she thought she never would. She has been married before and she is deciding if she needs a relationship or if she is happy in her own company. Living in this community of Driftwood is a way of finding herself if you like.

Along with Lydia and Meredith, we have Clem and his Dad Martin, a new neighbour and the vocal and wonderful Vi. Everyone needs a Vi in their lives, and they probably know someone similar… I am saying nothing about who she occasionally reminds me of! I think this is wonderful about this author’s characters, they feel familiar and that is not just through reading the books in order, but that they do remind you of people you already know in everyday life. I think this is what makes this series so good and for me, it means the balance is right.

With new starts and fresh opportunities, things are going well, but there are some more serious aspects that the author brings in. This does leave a cloud over things and these are dealt with as any of us do in reality. We dwell and overthink and wonder about the what-ifs. Don’t think this means the book is down and moody because it never is, the author knows her characters too well to let them suffer in silence. They do live in a close-knit community after all.

There are some wonderful heartwarming moments in this book and I will admit to a tear or two at some scenes. This is a fabulous book and would work as a stand-alone, but reading in order helps with the continuing stories of what are becoming regulars. One for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction and romance, with some very humorous moments and great characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole @alyssacolelit @RandomTTours @Harper360UK #mystery #thriller #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today of One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole. This is an interesting mystery and thriller story about a woman with multiple personalities, it is one that I enjoyed.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for arranging my copy of the book and my spot on the Blog Tour.

From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of When No One Is Watching comes a riveting thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.

Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.

Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.

Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.

MY REVIEW

This was such an interesting read, it focuses on Ken and her others, the others being personalities that are part of her Dissociative Identity Disorder, often referred to as DID system. I have read books about characters having multiple identities but I think this is the first time I have read a book that has as many identities as Ken does.

Ken is such an interesting one to get to know as she has been dormant for 6 years, when she resurfaces and becomes the main identity she finds that one of her other personalities has set her up in a job as a caretaker on an island. In the past, the other personalities have been more aware of what has been happening, but this time they are at a bit of a loss. The journey to the island reveals a little of the history and when she finally arrives she is given a little more information.

This book took me a little while to get to grips with as there are several characters, many of which are Ken’s other identities. The author does make things clear as I was taken between identities and given more insight into this disorder. The mystery of the island is a dark one and does not become fully evident until a bit further into the story. This trickles through and gradually adds more mystery and at times more confusion.

The setting of the island is good because it gives that locked-in mystery touch, the island becomes isolated, there is no outside communication and there is a murder, so it does give you the right vibes. The way the murder is solved is given a twist because of Ken and her other identities. The stability of Ken’s mental health is something that the author uses to good effect, juggling identities, personalities, the stress of the island and trying to work out the answers adds a different twist to this genre.

This is an interesting and at times dark read. I enjoyed the identity disorder side of this book and I think I came away with a slightly better understanding of a disorder I haven’t really read much about. The mix of psychological and mystery with dashes of historical elements made for a story that felt different and it is one I would happily recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Reinventing Democracy by David Kauders @SparklingBooks @palamedespr #politics #democracy #nonfiction #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today of Reinventing Democracy by David Kauders. I don’t read political books but this one caught my eye and I decided to give it a go. The author gives his opinion on the way British politics is and how it could be improved.

My thanks to Sparkling Books and Palmedes PR for arranging my copy of this book and for my spot on the Blog Tour.

90% of electors want political reform. But how to escape the mess? Britain should adopt a federal structure with a written constitution and an elected apolitical People’s Council replacing autocratic and ineffective bodies.

Growing concern about the relative economic deterioration of the United Kingdom led to realisation that the system of political governance is probably an unrecognised cause of British decline. Events over the last few years have provided a fertile supply of examples. All that was needed was some original thought, but nobody seemed to be facing facts.

At the centre of these ideas lie four major concepts:

1. The People’s Council to replace the Privy Council, House of Lords, and some scrutiny functions of the present House of Commons.
2. A federal structure, with sovereignty defined as sovereignty of the people of each nation instead of the Crown in parliament.
3. Representation in United Kingdom-wide bodies to be determined according to the Fibonacci series, so that England can be outvoted by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined, thereby preventing England treating the other nations as colonies.
4. The book includes a draft written constitution.

“The oldest democracy is now an obsolete model long overdue for replacement.”

MY REVIEW

I am not a fan of politics or politicians, but I do understand the need to vote for those who make the decisions for our country. In recent years though, it seems to me that politics has turned into a point-scoring competition rather than focusing on the policies. This was highlighted for me during the Brexit decisions. It was embarrassing to watch politicians trying to get one over another politician. Listening to what Brussels was saying and then to what our politicians were saying was crazy. Each politician seemed to be saying that if they were in charge they would make the best decision and would fight for a different agreement, when in actuality Brussels was saying, you want to leave this is what we have on the table. I may be wrong here and this is my own opinion.

What is also an opinion of this book and the author does mention this throughout the book. Often with phrases like “in my opinion”, or “according to others” and similar. The author gives a good account of the things that have worked for other countries and how they would benefit this country. I think most of us agree, that the British government is not what it used to be and that it seems to be getting worse. Watching politicians back-stabbing, changing sides, bickering between themselves and generally treating their positions as a right rather than for the benefit of the people.

As I read this book I found myself agreeing with many of the points the author makes. I was surprised when I found out that we do not have a constitution as a single document (I did mention that I don’t understand politics), instead we have a vast array of documents that have been amended over the centuries, yes, the centuries! This is why British politics can be confusing, so surely having one document that covers the country makes sense. Well, it does to me!

The author is based in Switzerland at the time of writing this book, and this gives him the perspective of someone looking in. He refers to things that happen in Switzerland and how some things differ and he also includes items from other countries. This adds to his argument and sort of endorses what he is referring to.

It was a couple of weeks ago, as part of a course I am doing, that I was asked what democracy was for someone living in the UK. I said that I thought it was when the people vote for politicians and government to run the country to the benefit of the people who elect them. I was then asked if I felt this was true. I had to say that I didn’t because who I vote for is not a person but a party and any problems I have in my part of the UK are not considered important when they are discussed in London. This was then discussed within our group and almost everyone else agreed with me.

This book is easy to read, there are some things that I didn’t understand but I think I went into this with the probability that this would be the case. On the whole, though, the vast majority did make sense. The author does mention that he does not expect that any party would ask for a single document constitution to be written up as it would not be in their best interests, even though it would be for those of us who have the power to vote.

If you are curious about politics or want to read something that gives a different perspective and also highlights some very interesting points in the way British politics is run. I don’t tend to read anything political, but I have to say I found this compelling and interesting. It is of course only one side of a huge argument, but it is one that makes some valid points and I would happily recommend it.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Last Guest House by Caroline Mitchell @emblabooks #thriller #mystery #netgalley #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review of The Last Guest House by Caroline Mitchell. This is a fabulously dark and twisted thriller that I adored.

My huge thanks to Embla Books for accepting my request to read this book via NetGalley.

Guest House Rules

No smoking in the rooms.

No loud music.

No phones

No leaving your room after 9pm

DC Nicola McKenna is meant to be resting following her last case, so she lets her boyfriend to take her to the Isle of Skye for the weekend. But what’s meant to be a getaway to see the aurora borealis soon turns into a nightmare when they discover that their hotel has double booked.

In desperation, they check into the only hotel with rooms available nearby – The Loch House.

But from the moment they step foot in the guest house Nicola knows something is very wrong.

And as snow starts to fall, and night closes in, she begins to wonder if they will ever leave here alive…

The absolutely gripping, action-packed new thrilled from bestselling author Caroline Mitchell. Perfect for fans of The Sanatorium and The Hunting Party.

MY REVIEW

What a deliciously dark story this was, it has two different storylines and while I wasn’t sure how they would join, they were both interesting in their ways.

Alex, her son George and her partner Matt had not meant to be staying at the guest house they ended up in. It was a surprise that Matt had organised, everything that could go wrong did. Instead of a lovely warm hotel, they are in a dark, gloomy guest house where the owner has a series of rules. The owners are as creepy as their house. Other guests are staying and each of them is not exactly pleased with the rules, but as the snow is now coming down thick and fast they have no choice but to stay put and abide by the rules.

The author does such a good job of describing the house, and the owners and also giving a back story to this creepy house. It is the 10th anniversary of a murder and once those staying there find this out there is some tension and edginess. The author has created a locked room mystery within the house and the setting of the Isle of Skye adds even more remoteness to the scenario.

I did mention two storylines, one is the main bulk of the story and the focus with Alex trying to put things together and Matt getting annoyed that she cannot leave her “police head” on holiday mode. The other is a podcast, short sections that are dropped in between the main story. This one left me puzzled and it was not until much later in the book when it suddenly dawned on me what and how it was connected. It caught me completely unaware!

The author definitely knows how to gradually increase tension and suspicion and she does this with great effect with her characters. There is a sense of distrust and because each of the chapters is from the perspective of alternating people you are never quite sure who can be trusted. I do like this way of telling things as you get little snippets of a character’s darkest secrets or motives.

This is a wonderfully paced story that increases its pace and keeps me turning the pages. I wanted to know and found that the answers were gradually given but more questions arose. There is a dramatic conclusion and it was a satisfying one as well. Great for readers who like a tense, atmospheric, locked-room mystery and thriller story. Addictive and creepy and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 15th April 2024) #booklove #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

Hello and welcome to another weekly update of books I have read. I am going to be away soon so will not be around much for the next couple of weeks. Looking forward to that and hopefully, we might manage a coffee and cake somewhere are well 🙂

I have had another slower week with the books and like last week only managed to read 2.

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole – this is a fabulous book about a young woman who has multiple personalities, it was an interesting read and I discovered that I didn’t that much about this at all. An atmospheric and eerie story and I will share my full review as part of the Blog Tour.

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash – do I need to say anything more? A wonderful installment in the series and one that I adored from start to finish and again the review will be part of the Blog Tour.

That is all for me,

Have a brilliant week ahead,

Take Care

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Intruders by Louise Jensen @HQstories #thriller #mystery #fiction #NetGalley #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today of The Intruders by Louise Jensen. This is a creepy story set in a manor house with dark secrets.

My huge thanks to HQ for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

It should be the perfect a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?

MY REVIEW

If you are looking for a story that has you with a feeling of dread and is eerily atmospheric, then this is one you should take a look at.

Cass and James have been given the opportunity to be caretakers of a manor house. A chance for them to save money so they can get a place of their own. The manor house they move into was the site of a murder several years ago. I am not sure if it is somewhere I would consider living, older large houses are creepy at the best of times! The author uses this sense to great effect with things moving or a sense of someone watching.

Cass and James are a new couple and have been together for 6 months, they do have that instant connection and feel comfortable in each other’s company. They have similarities in the way things have happened in their lives and it is this sense that links them.

The author has created two characters that have troubled pasts, this is something that comes up often in stories. Cass is more vulnerable as she has been overly protected during her growing up and James is a little more savvy I feel. They are not opposites and they do muddle along quite nicely as a couple.

As the title and synopsis suggest, there is more to this story than a couple living in a house. The first half of the book deal introduces the house, some of the past and the present. The second half completely turns things on their head! This, I will admit, did throw me initially and it took me a little while to get things right in my head. When things settled though, this story took on a route that I didn’t expect at all. It becomes very dark, evil and even more unsettling as the author brings in a sensitive subject.

I really enjoyed this story and the sense of dread is something that the author uses to great effect. The feeling that there is a secret waiting to be told felt like the tip of the iceberg. Many things were waiting to be revealed and this added to the tenseness of the story.

This is a great story and one that fans of darker crime and mystery books would probably enjoy, I did and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Four by Ellie Keel @HQstories #thriller #mystery #NetGalley #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today of The Four by Ellie Keel. This is a debut story for this author and it soon became addictive reading.

My huge thanks to HQ for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

A dark academia suspense debut perfect for fans of The Secret History and If We Were Villains, The Four follows a group of scholarship students whose dreams become a reality when they are accepted into an exclusive boarding school, but they are soon bound by a dark secret that could save one of them… or destroy them all.

I don’t regret what we did. And I would do it all again.

Each of the four had, for their own reasons, been desperate to come to High Realms. Marta, Rose, Sami, and Lloyd beat out thousands of applicants for spots at one of the most exclusive private schools in the UK, whose alumni can be found at the highest levels of society. As the only scholarship students in the class of 1999, the four form a crucial comradery as they navigate the school’s web of rivalries, honor, loyalty, and revenge.

Because within the maze of red brick buildings, between the stables and the vast old library, a sinister undercurrent of violence is brewing. And when one of the four reveals a devastating secret, each of the friends must wonder what risks they will take to remain at High Realms.

What follows is a hauntingly atmospheric and compulsively page-turning academic noir that explores the secretive world of elite institutions and the complex and often dangerous bonds of friendship.

MY REVIEW

When four teens get the chance to attend a prestigious boarding school as part of a scholarship program, they are excited and apprehensive. They are joining other students, some of whom have been boarding the school for many years. The four are, Rose, Sami, Marta and Lloyd, they are naturally drawn to each other as they begin this new phase of their lives.

This story has some stereotyping, and the author uses it to good effect. The contrast between how those who live at boarding schools and those who have won scholarships starts to become a little more obvious as the story unfolds. There is very much an us and them type of environment, yet academically the four are just as, if not more so the ones who top the tables with grades.

The story takes a dark turn when an accident occurs. From this point, the four are more alone than they have ever been, but it also means they bond more and then learn more about each other. While they are trying to do what they feel is the right thing, others are still hounding them, marking them out and making them look over their shoulders constantly, although some of this could be down to a feeling of guilt as well.

The author does a great job of explaining the main four and also those whom they are in more contact with, so other teachers and students. The story is told from the perspective of Rose as she reflects on what happened and why. The story does merge fully but the journey from the beginning to the end is twisted, full of deception, friendship and loyalty.

This story deals with some dark themes and while it is a book that deals with teens, this is not a book I would suggest is aimed at teens. At times the author takes the plot a little too far, and I did think it started to become a little too much as keeping within the feel of realism, but not so much that it was wildly over the top.

This is full of drama, tension, teen angst, mystery, thriller, psychological and crime genres all rolled in together. It took a while for me to get into it, but after a few chapters I found I needed to know what was going to happen and soon found myself addicted. A good story and one that I would happily recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 7th April 2024) #bookupdate #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

Welcome to my weekly round-up of books I have read. I have to mention the weather, I seem to do this every week… but seriously what on earth is going on with it? Blowing a hoolie down here and with some heavy downpours. By the time I am going to get back into the garden, the section that I started to weed will be all grown over again! I have got some plug plants potted on into larger pots but I haven’t started any seeds for veg yet as the weather is still so changeable.

As for the books, last week I managed quite a few, this week I am back to two. Here they are…

The Last Guest House by Caroline Mitchell – I saw this one on NetGalley and was so pleased I got approved for it. It is an incredibly atmospheric story and one that was so dark and twisted. eep an eye out for my review soon.

Reinventing Democracy by David Kauders – if you read my profiles then you will see that I don’t read anything political! I saw this book come up for a Blog Tour and decided to give it a go. The author makes some very interesting observations and gives some valid opinions. Quite an eye-opener for me and keep an eye out for the tour.

A couple of weeks ago I got a tattoo, well I got two but the one I am going to show you shows my love of books and reading…

Well, that’s me done for another week.

Take care and have a great week ahead.

All the best

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan @JoCallaghanKat @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #crime #thriller #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today of Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan. This is the 2nd book in the Kat & Locke series and it is a fabulous series that mixes technology with police procedural and the mix is just brilliant.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from the publisher Simon & Schuster UK.

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

MY REVIEW

After reading the author’s previous book, In the Blink of an Eye, I was eager to read the next book to see if it would be as thrilling as the first one, I have to say it was and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.

Kat & Lock are two very different entities. DCS Kat Frank is in charge of the team, one of which is AIDE Lock, an artificial intelligence detective. While he is not able to perform some of the things that a human would, he can also do things a lot quicker when it comes to processing and searching databases and tech that is involved with running a case.

The author did a great job with the first book and gave some different perspectives and opinions, this book also follows those and also, more importantly, adds more to this. The idea of Lock working alongside a team of detectives as they investigate a crime is for the system to learn and adapt. Lock can be seen via a holographic projection.

The discovery of a body on the top of a mount that has been crucified is bad enough, but there are more details to add. These make the case unique and when another body is discovered some think there may be a link, but not everyone shares this view.

Being introduced to the team in the first book was good and the author has fleshed her characters out more, which sounds a little odd when one of them has no flesh as they are a hologram! However, she has added more details and given the reader a chance to get to know them and this is building a great sense of camaraderie between them.

There is a sense of time being important because Lock is being brought into an active case. He is also being seen by the general public properly so not only do the police force have to make sure things are done quickly, the politicians want a quick wrap-up to show that this way of investigating can be beneficial. There is no pushing Kat or the team into making a quick decision though, all things have to line up.

So with a mix of instincts and logic, this book provides two approaches to a crime and the investigation. Mixing crime fiction with a slight sci-fi feel but not one that is full of techno-speak so it makes for seamless reading.

I am loving this series and if you are looking for something with a twist as well as being an excellent crime thriller then this is a series you may well be interested in. It is a cracking read and one that 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

Hacked: The Secret Behind Cyber-Attacks by Dr Jessica Barker @KoganPage #NetGalley #technology #nonfiction #bookreview

I am delighted to share my review today for Hacked by Dr Jessica Barker. I was intrigued when I saw this one and for someone who doesn’t really understand technology that much, I found it interesting.

My huge thanks to the publisher Kogan Page for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

When it comes to cyber attacks, everyone’s a potential victim. But you don’t have to be helpless against these threats.

Hacked offers the knowledge and strategies you need to protect yourself and your business. In this book, cybersecurity expert Jessica Barker uncovers how hackers are weaponizing cutting-edge tactics and technologies to target individuals and organizations, before showing how you can safeguard yourself against any potential attacks and how to react if you do become a target.

Featuring expert commentary from world-leading cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers, this book uncovers the fascinating stories of the most insidious and notorious cyber attacks, including how the Mirai malware almost took down the internet and how a supply chain attack infiltrated the US government and other global institutions.

From social engineering and data theft to ransomware and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, there are numerous strategies that hackers use to target our finances and data. Uncover their secrets and learn how to safeguard your data with Hacked.

MY REVIEW

I am the first to admit I don’t know a huge amount about computers or how they can be used for hacking. When I saw this book I decided to give it a go and see if I could increase my knowledge so that I could understand more. I am aware of having strong passwords, not opening links in emails, if something is too good to be true then it is, and never giving details of PINs. As I said all very basic.

THis book was ideal for me as it gave the information and the facts in a basic way. I wasn’t left scratching my head and wondering what this was all about and feeling lost. The author gives the facts in a way that makes sense. So, yes, this is definitely aimed at the lower end of the tech-head ladder.

The author takes the reader through various things such as phishing, trojans, ransomware, worms, malware, cyber-attacks and a lot more. When she started to give numbers that were in the billions of dollars and how large companies could be held to ransom it was shocking.

From the very first bug to the latest attacks, the author explains the most significant ones and tells how criminals were able to get into systems. With the emergence of Bitcoin, this is a way of keeping things hidden.

The author has a great way of explaining her findings and the data citing various papers and articles all the way. This was an an eye-opener for sure and one that I also actually, really enjoyed reading.

If you have an interest in technology and how it can be misused and you don’t really have a tech background or understanding then this is one you may find useful I certainly did. Interesting and quite addictive, one I would happily recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx