Book-Mad-Mum

  The Appeal by Janice Hallett published by Serpents Tail In a town full of secrets, someone was murdered, someone went to prison and everyone is a suspect – can you uncover the truth? When I read the blurb of this book I immediately wanted to read it, as I see myself as a bit of a sleuth convinced I can solve any murder mystery. The style of this book as well is superb – what you read are documents relating to the events surrounding an Am-Dram group called The Fairway Players. The answer is hidden within the emails, texts and letters that you read, but can you uncover the truth? I didn’t!!! So much for my super-sleuthing!!! The only downside I would say, is that there is a long list of characters which can sometimes be confusing, however, I got so involved in this book – that I sat down (like a lawyer!) and made a list of everyone, and their relationships to each other (I told you that I see myself as Miss Marple!) I absolutely love books that are written in the style of ...

It is no secret, I am a massive fan of Jennifer Bohnet's books - she always seems to hit the nail on the head, placing you right in the heart of the story. This book is no exception, and is set in the glamorous  location of Monaco around the time of the Formula One Grand Prix...put on your most sparkly outfit, fasten your seat belt  whilst Jennifer gives us VIP pit lane access to the high octane event of the year. Three years ago, Nanette was in a terrible car accident alongside her Formula One racing driver fiance Zac. The accident saw Nanette being airlifted back to Britain, while Zac walked away seemingly unhurt, but it wasn't just the accident he walked away from, he also left Nanette. She lost her future, her job and her home all in the space of a few short hours. Settling into a new life back in the UK, Monte Carlo was a place she wanted to forget, not revisit. But when her friend and employer, Vanessa asked her to look after her children in the Principality for a few mo...

  Love Almost by Hayley Doyle published by Avon Books D rama teacher Chloe is deliriously in love for the very first time. Following a wonderful holiday to Thailand, Jack, her boyfriend of five months, is killed in a tragic accident, and Chloe is left reeling. Their relationship was amazing – but it never really had the chance to get started. Grieving but determined, Chloe decides to live life for the both of them and makes her way through the list of things they’d planned to do together – this time on her own.   If I am brutally honest, I really didn’t “get” this book – it was a quick read as I was desperate to know what was going to happen. Convinced there was a twist to the tale,  I kept coming up with my own theories, waiting for the big “reveal”, however there isn’t one, and I discovered this is a book about love, loss and grief. Chloe is a nice character, but I didn’t fully understand her. There were a few other characters in the book who came and went during th...

  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...

  The Christmas Shop On Nutcracker Lane by Jaimie Admans published by HQ Books   Christmas has always been Nia Maddison’s favourite time of the year and as a crafter and a massive lover of Nutcrackers, this season gives Nia the opportunity to combine them both. As a child, her grandmother used to take her to visit Nutcracker Lane, a row of Christmas shops full of magic and wonder. When the opportunity to run her own Christmas gift shop on the most magical street in town arises, it feels like her wishes have been finally granted. After receiving a text from her boyfriend, who obviously meant to send it to another woman (!) Nia faces the holiday season on her own, but as she leaves work late one night, she makes a wish on the (supposedly) magical nutcracker and half-jokingly wishes to find Prince Charming. The next day Nia gets to work to find another decoration shop has opened directly across the lane from her own, and she can’t resist having a nose around. Whilst...

  A Season In The Snow   by Isla Gordon published by Sphere Books Alice Bright loves her life as a cartoonist. She has a job she adores, a devoted family, and friends she'd lay down her life for. So when tragedy strikes, bringing with it Bear - a rapidly-growing Bernese Mountain puppy in need of a home - it turns Alice's whole world upside down. She retreats inside her flat, and inside herself, with only her new companion for company. But one-bedroom London flats aren't made for mountain dogs, and so Alice lets Bear push her out of her comfort zone to his homeland: the mountains of Switzerland. Could a change of scene in snowy serenity be just the thing to help Alice balance out life again? This was the last festive read I had on my review list, and boy did I inadvertently leave the best till last!! It’s not really a Christmas book, although the big day does feature, but it’s a winter season book, so if you find yourself reading this in January or February, it won’...

  Moonlight Over Studland Bay – Della Galton published by Boldwood Books Samantha Jones works as an audio typist for a local company in Dorset. However, it’s not her dreams job. She wanted to devote, and expand, Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting service. When best friend (and housemate) Abby has a baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life. Does she want life to continue as it is or does she want to look for the perfect sperm donor – on a drunken evening Abby and Sam draw up the perfect "daddy" list. Sam’s world is soon rocked when her boss Rex accuses her of moonlighting and her parents who have run a B&B locally for years make a shock revelation. I’m going to say it from the start…I loved this book! Sam is a relatable character who knows what she wants from life, but she doesn’t want to upset, hurt or trample on people to get it. She’s just an all-round good egg!! There were times in the book when Abby made me laugh but a...