Book-Mad-Mum

Late Summer in the Vineyard by Jo Thomas My rating: 5 of 5 stars Emmy works in a call centre and is struggling through life after the death of her mother. She lives with her dad who never fully recovered from his grief, and her sister Jody left to marry a wealthy businessman and distance herself from her working class family. When the bailiffs come knocking on the door, Emmy knows that she has to up her game to try and save the family home which has gathered arrears on the mortgage. She talks herself onto a training programme in France for a wine merchant, which the opportunity of becoming team leader bringing with it a bonus which could solve her finance problems. I loved this book and was transported to France on the best holiday of my life without ever leaving my house. The images that Jo describes are amazing, and I could see the vineyard, and the chateau on the hill, the Gita and the river. I could feel the sun on my back, smell the cheese and

The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances My rating: 4 of 5 stars Laura is a successful tv producer and appears to have it all - a successful career, a wealthy husband, and a grown up son training to be a doctor. Life is going brilliantly until Daniel, her son, brings his girlfriend Cherry home to meet the family. Very slowly things start to unravel, and all is not what it seems with Cherry, but one evening, a lie is told and you see a darker side to one of the characters!! A brilliantly gripping psychological thriller, although you kind of guess the ending, but still it's well executed and I certainly didn't feel robbed at the end. View all my reviews

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nina is living the dream! She has a wonderful husband Finn, two sons who are excelling at their public school, a dream home, and is financially secure until that is, one fateful day when her life is turned up-side down following the death of Finn in a car accident. I couldn't put this book down, it gripped me from the very first sentence, and I really engaged with Nina and her sons, and especially in the way that although she may have gone through hell, she kept smiling and seeing the positive in life for the sake of her children, even though inside she was mourning the death of her husband and their previous life together. I sincerely hope this isn't the last we've heard of Nina, as I would love to find out where she goes from here. Amanda has an amazing ability to write stories that we all want to read, and characters that we can all relate to in some form or another. Well done Ms Prowse, a

The Rome Affair by Karen Swan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Francesca Hackett (Cesca) has given up a career in Law to move to Rome and work as a tour guide, helping tourists see the real city. One evening after returning home after a night out with friends, Cesca finds a stolen designer handbag dumped in a bin, and vows to return it to its true owner. Socialite Viscontessa Elena Dei Damiani Pignatelli Della Mirandola is the owner of the bag, and the two women strike up an unusual friendship, resulting in Cesca agreeing to become Elena's biographer. As the story of her life unfolds, the lid on Pandora's box is lifted and a tragic secret is revealed. I adored this book which I read on a sunbed whilst on holiday!! Karen Swan is a brilliant author, and always makes the story lift off the pages so much so, that when you are reading it you will feel the heat of Rome on your shoulders, smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and your lips will drool as y