REVIEW: While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart

While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart published by Headline Books

Jean-Luc and Charlotte Beauchamps have left their war-torn memories of Paris behind to live a quiet life in America with their son, Sam. They have a house in the suburbs, they've learned to speak English, and they have regular get-togethers with their outgoing American neighbors. Every minute in California erases a minute of their lives before -- before the Germans invaded their French homeland and incited years of violence, hunger, and fear. But their taste of the American Dream shatters when officers from the U.N. Commission on War Crimes pull-up outside their home and bring Jean-Luc in for questioning.

Initially when I started this book, I wasn't sure if it was for me or not, as the subject matter was about the movement of Jewish prisoners in France during World War II. However...this book didn't go down the route I thought it would and went in a completely different direction which I wasn't expecting (I gasped!)

The characters were so well written, and completely believable given everything they had been through and I didn't know who I felt more sorry for. It's not a soppy war time story either - this will really pull at your heart strings.

A brilliant read, and it well deserves 5 stars!

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REVIEW: Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**ck Up by Alexandra Potter

Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter published by Pan Macmillan Nell Stevens’ life is a mess – moving back to London from LA after her business goes bust and her relationship fails she notices that many things have changed. Her friends are now all settled with children, and she is forced to rent a room in a house. Life just feels like it’s f**ked up!. When Nell gets a job writing obituaries, she first encounters Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys. Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It's time to turn her life around. Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book, as I mistakenly thought it was transcripts of a podcast, but how wrong was I? Th...

Maybe Next Christmas by Emma Heatherington

Maybe Next Christmas" by Emma Heatherington was a delightful festive read that truly delivered in the end. While I found the beginning a little slow, once the story picked up, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down! Emma's storytelling and knack for building relatable, heartfelt characters shines through, making the journey worth it. The Christmas charm, along with themes of love and second chances, make this one feel as cozy as her other novels. Definitely recommended for fans of Christmas romances or anyone looking for a feel-good, warm festive read!

The Commuter written by Emma Curtis and published by Atlantic Books

In The Commuter , we follow Rachel, who has just woken from a coma after a car accident, only to be told that her wealthy husband has been murdered in their family home. As Rachel begins to recover, she experiences flashbacks, including memories of a mysterious fellow commuter—a man whose name she doesn’t even know. Strangely, since her husband’s death, this man has vanished, and now the police suspect that Rachel may be involved in the murder. As the investigation deepens, Rachel finds herself racing against time to uncover the truth before she is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she knows she didn’t commit. The Commuter is a psychological thriller that explores suburban life, blending suspense, deception, and complex relationships. While the story maintains tension throughout, I found the plot became quite complicated toward the end, and I did feel lost at times. Some parts left me feeling a bit detached, but overall, it was an engaging read. Rating: 3.5/5

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