Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Blogger Evening, organised by Books and the City. I'd attended a couple of their events so I knew it is always a great opportunity to hear about new books, chat with authors and bloggers and of course, eat all the cupcakes, but what made this event so special was the panel of authors. There were 10 authors invited! It was amazing to hear really well-known authors talk about their new books but also discover new talents and their debuts. 

The first thing that caught my attention when I first arrived at the brand new offices of Simon & Schuster were the beautiful cupcakes. Restoration Cakes had designed a cupcake for each book and they really looked like a work or art. 

The event was chaired by editor Jo Dickinson and she had the most interesting questions for our authors. Here's a little information in each of the 10 books presented:

Random Acts of Kindness - Part 3: Crossroads by Victoria Walters 

Victoria Walkers' new book is a serialised enovel and Crossroads (the third installment) is out on April 2nd. This story is all about kindness and during her turn, Victoria shared with us how she felt when she herself experienced a random act of kindness from a stranger. It sounds like a lovely read and I am looking forward to discover more about this story. If you are curious too, you can get Part 1 for free here. 

Our House by Louise Candlish 

I've already read and reviewed this one and it left me completely speechless. What a clever and unique story (you can read my review here). It was a real treat to hear Louise talking about it. She basically wanted to write a story about a new crime, not what you usually find in books, and was inspired by an article about a house theft involving mafias. According to her, if you follow the book step by step, you can steal a house for yourself! Our House is out on April 5th and I highly recommend you get a copy of it. 

The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Asthon

Next, it was the turn of Juliet Ashton. I got an early review copy of her latest, The Sunday Lunch Club, and devoured it immediately. It was such a warm and funny story and I'm over the moon that they are quoting me on the final book. Juliet talked about the Piper family, the stars of the story, and their love for bickering. And the short extract she read had everyone laughing. An extraordinary story about ordinary story, The Sunday Lunch Club is out on April 19th.

You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac

Catherine Isaac might look familiar to rom-com fans, as she is also the best-selling author Jane Costello (a firm favorite of mine). Catherine talked about her new story and how the more serious and deep tone of it called for a brand new name. She also stressed that You Me Everything is not a story about an illness but a story about love, all kinds of love. I've read this one already and I can tell you that this is, indeed, a very special story, out April 19th.

Starry Skies at Castle Court by Holly Hepburn 

Starry Skies is Part 4 of Holly Hepburn's latest serialized enovel. I haven't read this one yet, but I loved Holly's previous books so it was great to learn a bit more about Castle Court. Holly talked about the research she did for this story: the main characters open a biscuit shop so she made, iced and ate biscuits herself (what hard work researching is!). Also, while writing this story Holly had in mind Kingly Court, in Carnaby Street, so I decided to go there to discover this location the following day. Following Holly's recommendation, I had some chicken and waffles in Dirty Bones, delicious! Now I cannot wait to discover Castle Court. Part 4 is out on May 1st. 

Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

I love Paige Toon's stories, so for me, hearing her talk about her new one was a highlight of the night. Five Years From Now was inspired by en event in her own life, when something went quite wrong and her dad told her that five years from then she'd look back and understand why that happened, and she did! The story follows a couple and their encounters every five years and it sounds amazing. It's out on May 17th. 

Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain

During her turn, Heidi talked about her inspiring story. She had always wanted to write but had never really gone for it. But when she finally decided to do so, she entered the one day submission Digital Original scheme organized by Books and the City. And 3 years later, here she is about to publish her 6th book! Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square sounds like a delightful story and it is out on May 31st.

Best Practice by Penny Parkes

Best Practice is the third book the Larkford series. I've loved the previous two books set in this lovely village, with the practice in its centre, and I am really looking forward to catching up with these characters and meeting the new ones. So I had so much fun listening to Penny talk about them! She sometimes forgets that they are not real and was shocked to discover that Elsie's house was being sold. Best Practice is out now in Hardback and will be released in paperback on June 28th. 

The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore 

I haven't read any books by Santa Montefiore yet, but I have heard great things about her stories. The Temptation of Gracie is her first novel after her latest series and it's set in beautiful Tuscany. Hearing her talk about the castle and the stunning area, I could already picture it in my head, so I cannot wait to be transported there! The Temptations of Gracie is out this summer on July 12th.

The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris

And last but not least, it was Anstey Harris' turn. Hers was the only name I didn't recognize when I got the invite, so I was curious to find out more about her and her novel. She was actually not allowed to share a lot about her debut but what she shared had me really excited. Her story has music at its core, so imagine her surprise when she first sat to write and through her window she saw her neighbor playing the cello! The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton isn't out until January next year, but I would definitely recommend pre-ordering it! 

What a panel, right? I am looking forward to discover this amazing stories!

Afterwards, we still had time to keep eating some more cupcakes, chat with the authors and get our booklets signed. All in all, it was a lovely bookish evening and as usual, I was left wishing I lived in London to be able to attend more events like this. But, thanks to SJV, I flew back home with a suitcase full of goodies. Thanks so much to Books and the City for yet another amazing event.

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Kate Thompson's latest book, The Allotment Girls, out now in ebook and paperback. I've read and loved all of Kate's previous books, so I was really excited to discover this new story. Here's what I thought:

Title: The Allotment Girls

Author: Kate Thompson

Published: March 22nd 2018 by Pan

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: During the Second World War, life in the iconic Bryant & May match factory is grimy and tough. Annie, Rose, Pearl and Millie carry on making matches for the British Army, with bombs raining down around them.

Inspired by the Dig for Victory campaign, Annie persuades the owners to start Bryant & May allotment in the factory grounds. With plenty of sweat and toil, the girls eventually carve out a corner of the yard into a green plot full of life and colour.

In the darkest of times, the girls find their allotment a tranquil, happy escape. Using pierced dustbin lids to sieve through the shrapnel and debris, they bring about a powerful change, not just in the factory, but their own lives.

As the war rages on, the garden becomes a place of community, friendship – and deceit. As the garden thrives and grows, so do the girls' secrets...

The Allotment Girls is an inspiring and heartwarming novel of wartime hardship, friendship and fortitude from Kate Thompson, author of the Secrets of the Sewing Bee.

Review: This is Kate Thompson's fourth book and having read and loved her previous three, I knew what to expect from her: a touching story, well researched with generous descriptions and historic details, and above all, full of heart. And The Allotment Girls had all these ingredients and more.

Set in the East End, in Bow to be exact, during WWII, The Allotment Girls tells the story of four friends. They all work tirelessly in a match factory and support each other and their community as much as they can. Actually, their friendship is one of the key elements of the story and one that I enjoyed immensely. These girls were really made of stronger stuff and their loyalty knew no boundaries. 

The other key element of the story was, of course, the allotments. Following the "Dig for Victory" campaign from the government, Annie convinced her friends and the company to create two allotments in the factory grounds. These allotments changed the life of these girls completely and I loved how both the girls and the gardens grew together and faced new challenges and obstacles. 

Each character had her own story and secrets, which made the story very interesting and with plenty of unexpected turns. I warmed especially to Millie, this fierce woman was such an inspiration, she was a fighter and was ready to go to any lengths for her loved ones. But I have to say that I liked reading about all of them, by the end of the book I felt like I was one more in the gang. 

I am always fascinated by Kate Thompson's stories, they open a window to our recent past and paint such a clear picture of how life was back then. The Allotment Girls is a very compelling story with a lot of heart. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Shortlisted for the 2017 Costa Novel Award, Tin Man is the beautiful and heartbreaking new novel from Sarah Winman, author of the international bestseller WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT. Out this week in paperback.

Title: Tin Man

Author: Sarah Winman

Published: March 22nd 2018 by Tinder Press

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: It begins with a painting won in a raffle: fifteen sunflowers, hung on the wall by a woman who believes that men and boys are capable of beautiful things.

And then there are two boys, Ellis and Michael, who are inseparable.

And the boys become men, and then Annie walks into their lives, and it changes nothing and everything.

Review: As soon as I finished Tin Man, I wanted to re-read it immediately. What a beautiful and touching story. 

As they say, good things come in small packages and Tin Man is the perfect example, short of 200 pages, this novel is full of emotions and a beauty like no other. It's difficult to put into words what makes this book so special, but I think what captivated me the most were the three main characters, especially Ellis and Michael, and how well developed they were.

While reading about them, I was completely immersed in their lives, I celebrated their little achievements and joys and cried their loses and failures with them. They broke my heart and mended it and they even kept a little bit with them. Since I finished reading Tin Man, I've been missing them immensely. I'm quite sure I'll think of this story whenever I see a sunflower from now on. 

With a beautiful narrative, Tin man is a exquisite story about love, friendship and loss. I have no doubt that it will be one of my top reads of the year.

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Although this is my first novel by Rachel Hore, she is the bestselling author of A Week in Paris, and the Richard & Judy Bookclub pick A Place of Secrets. Described as a gripping and moving story spanning 70 years and set in Italy and in Norfolk, I was really curious to discover this story, even more when I saw the beautiful proof that landed on my doorstep.

Title: Last Letter Home 

Author: Rachel Hore

Published: March 22nd by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: On holiday with friends, young historian Briony Andrews becomes fascinated with a wartime story of a ruined villa in the hills behind Naples. There is a family connection: her grandfather had been a British soldier during the Italian campaign of 1943 in that very area. Handed a bundle of letters that were found after the war, Briony sets off to trace the fate of their sender, Sarah Bailey.

In 1939, Sarah returns with her mother and sister from India, in mourning, to take up residence in the Norfolk village of Westbury. There she forms a firm friendship with Paul Franklin, a young German who has found sanctuary in the local manor house, Westbury Hall. With the outbreak of war, conflicts of loyalty in Westbury deepen.

When, 70 years later, Briony begins to uncover Sarah and Paul’s story, she encounters resentments and secrets still tightly guarded. What happened long ago in the villa in the shadow of Vesuvius, she suspects, still has the power to give terrible pain…

Review: I do love a dual time story, and even more if it involves long lost love letters, so I was really looking forward to reading this story. It definitely started very well, with Briony going on holiday to Italy with some friends and discovering an abandoned villa, filled with war-time secrets. It picked my curiosity from the first few chapters and I found the war timeline fascinated. 

I must say though that I was not as enthusiastic about the present timeline. Briony was a character difficult to get to know, she was reserved and she became a shadow when she was with her exuberant best friend. However, as the story progressed, Briony did start to become more and more confident and I enjoyed seeing her character develop. But I as I said, I preferred the war-time scenes a lot more.

The past time-line focused in several characters, with Sarah and her family as the main ones. It was so much fun to read about her and her blossoming friendship with Paul, but also sad to see what repercussions it had in that time, as he was German. I also found it really interesting to read about everything he had to go through just because of his origin and I ended up really caring for these two. 

The story had a few surprises in store for us that made this read, even if a bit slow, intriguing. And both storylines were really well intertwined, with unexpected links. 

All in all, Last Letter Home is a very well-crafter dual time story and the setting in Italy during WWII is really interesting. Definitely recommended for fans of Historical Fiction. 

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Lily has died in a car accident. The trouble is, Lily's really not at all sure she wants to 'move on'... This funny, heartbreaking novel is perfect if you loved John Green or The Lovely Bones. 

Title: Sunflowers in February

Author: Phyllida Shrimpton

Published: February 8th by Hot Key Books

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Lily wakes up one crisp Sunday morning on the side of the road. She has no idea how she got there. It is all very peaceful. and very beautiful. It is only when the police car, and then the ambulance arrive, and she sees her own body, that she realises that she is in fact... dead. 

But what is she supposed do now? 

Lily has no option but to follow her body and see her family – her parents and her twin brother start falling apart. And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But will Lily give Ben his body back? She is beginning to have a rather good time...

A moving, startlingly funny yet achingly sad debut novel from a stunning new talent. 

Review: I have to say that reading the first few chapters of this story, I was a bit sceptic about its concept: a teenage girl dies in an accident and then follows her family around, unable to move one, until she manages to connect with her twin brother again. But after the first few chapters and as I got to know these characters, I started enjoying this story a lot. And by the end of it, I was crying big fat tears, both of sadness and of happiness.

I found the author's approach to grief very real and touching. You could feel Lily's anger and frustration at what had happened to her so unfairly and also the devastation from her family and friends. But what made this story so special was probably how funny it was at the same time. Lily was a lovely girl and she had a great sense of humour. Plus, Lily trying to act as her brother was equally silly and hilarious. 

I was really curious to find out how this story was going to unravel (which kept me reading way into the night) and I was very satisfied with the ending. As I said, the author found the perfect balance between sad, touching and up-lifting and I ended up really caring about these characters. 

Definitely something unexpected, just like sunflowers in February, this is a lovely story that will touch many hearts. 

Rating: 4 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue. Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it... How intriguing does this sound? Well, Our House is THE book you need to be reading right now! Original and unexpected, these are my thoughts on this fascinating story:

Title: Our House

Author: Louise Candlish

Published: April 5th 2018 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE.

When Fi Lawson arrives home to find strangers moving into her house, she is plunged into terror and confusion. She and her husband Bram have owned their home on Trinity Avenue for years and have no intention of selling. How can this other family possibly think the house is theirs? And why has Bram disappeared when she needs him most?

FOR RICHER, FOR POORER.

Bram has made a catastrophic mistake and now he is paying. Unable to see his wife, his children or his home, he has nothing left but to settle scores. As the nightmare takes grip, both Bram and Fi try to make sense of the events that led to a devastating crime. What has he hidden from her – and what has she hidden from him? And will either survive the chilling truth – that there are far worse things you can lose than your house? 

TILL DEATH US DO PART.

Review: Our House is my first book by Louise Candlish and I think I have no words to describe how good and unexpected this story was. The premise might seem a bit far-fetched, how can you arrive at you own house and find another family moving in? But as you discover the story behind this, it all seems disturbingly plausible. 

Our House focuses in the Lawson family and it is narrated by both Fiona and her ex-husband Bram so you get both sides of the story. The alternating narrative works really well and you soon feel like you are in their heads, living their lives, stressing about their problems and celebrating their little joys. And although there are not that many things happening, the pace is fast and the story quickly grabs your attention. I probably read the last quarter of the story holding my breath and what an ending! It left me completely speechless.

Both Fiona and Bram are really interesting and complex characters and their story is fascinating. By the end of it, I found myself really caring for their family. And although some of their choices were more than questionable they felt like real people, imperfect and quite prone to rush decisions. 

Our House is a really original and unique story that stretches the boundaries of a family to the limit. It's domestic noir at its best and the writing is exquisite. I can only applaud Louise Candlish for coming up with such a fascinating idea and executing it so well. I can already tell you that this will definitely be in my top books of the year. 

Rating: 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Today is my stop in the Blog Tour for Kiss Me, Kill Me by JS Carol. This thriller has been described as dark and uncomfortable and also as truly sinister. If this picked your curiosity, I have a very intriguing extract to share with you today! 

Title: Kiss Me, Kill Me

Author: JS Carol

Published: February 22nd 2018 by Zaffre

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: When Zoe meets Dan, he's everything she is looking for in a man - intelligent, charming, supportive.

It's only after they're married that she realises that he's controlling, aggressive, paranoid.

And there's no way out.

Or is there?

Zoe knows she has to escape, but Dan's found her once before, and she knows he can find her again.

But Dan has plans of his own. Plans that don't necessarily include Zoe.

Be careful who you trust . . .

FOR FANS OF THE MARRIAGE PACT AND CLARE MACKINTOSH COMES A TWISTING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT WILL MAKE YOU QUESTION EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW.

Extract

Cooking Daniel’s dinner was its own kind of hell. Standing at the stove, all those mouth-watering smells wafting around her, it was too much. On the few occasions where she dared to steal some, the guilt and paranoia had almost killed her. She had sat there at dinner slowly driving herself crazy, because he must have known what she had done. How could he not have? But he hadn’t said a word, and she had breathed a silent sigh of relief and promised herself it would never happen again. Except that was a lie, because eventually it would reach the point where she couldn’t help herself and the cycle would start all over again, need battling guilt like she was a junkie.

The big hand moved slowly past the nine, and the ten, and then the eleven. She wanted to eat, wanted to eat now, but she made herself wait. Five minutes today would be ten tomorrow; by this time next week it would be an hour. It just wasn’t worth it.

Zoe counted the second hand through the last thirty seconds then got up from the table. Her refrigerator was the small under-counter one. On the top shelf were two plastic containers containing her lunch. Usually everything she needed to prepare Daniel’s dinner would be on the middle one, but because they were eating out tonight this was empty today. This was the smallest of mercies, but when hope was in such short supply you took what you could get. Seeing the ingredients sitting on the shelf, being able to look but knowing that was all she could do, was a whole other circle of hell. 

Lunch was the same every day, just like breakfast was always cornflakes and water, so, even without looking, she knew what she would find. In the first container there would be five sticks of cucumber, a two-inch square of chicken and ninety-nine grains of brown rice. The soup was in the second container, although to call it soup was a stretch. It was thin and watery, and totally tasteless. Daniel made a new batch every Sunday evening and split it into seven containers, each marked with a day of the week. The Monday one was left in her refrigerator; the rest were locked in the freezer. 

She put the food onto a plate and there was more white china than food, like nouvelle cuisine, albeit a twisted version. The temptation was to hurry, but she made herself take it slowly, chewing each mouthful properly before moving on to the next. She ate the two-inch square of chicken first. It had been boiled, and it was as though the process had leached all the flavour away. Next she moved on to the sticks of cucumber, eating them one at a time to make the meal last as long as possible.

Before eating the rice, she counted the grains. She had watched Daniel put them out onto the kitchen island yesterday evening. He did it the same way each time. When he was finished there would be nine neat piles containing ten grains each arranged in three rows of three. Off to the right there would be a single lone pile of nine. She had considered asking him why he did this, but she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.

BA Paris has quickly become quite a big name in the psychological thriller genre with her addictive and shocking stories and she is back with a brand new story, Bring Me Back.

Title: Bring Me Back

Author: BA Paris

Published: March 8th 2019 by HQ Stories

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A young British couple are driving through France on holiday when they stop for gas. He runs in to pay, she stays in the car. When he returns her car door has been left open, but she's not inside. No one ever sees her again. 

Ten years later he's engaged to be married; he's happy, and his past is only a tiny part his life now. Until he comes home from work and finds his new wife-to-be is sitting on their sofa. She's turning something over in her fingers, holding it up to the light. Something that would have no worth to anyone else, something only he and she would know about because his wife is the sister of his missing first love.

As more and more questions are raised, their marriage becomes strained. Has his first love somehow come back to him after all this time? Or is the person who took her playing games with his mind?

Review: Bring Me Back is a dark and twisted story that kept surprising me until the last page. It tells the story of a couple about to be married; they have buried the past and live quite a happy life but the arrival of a Russian doll at their home changes everything and brings everything back. 

As you learn more about this couple and what brought them together, you soon realise something very dangerous is hanging over them and their happiness. There were several times when I thought I knew how the story was going to pan out but even when I was right, I was only right with some small details. This story was shocking in every way and BA Paris managed to create a mystery that kept slipping away. 

As you can imagine, I lost quite a few hours of sleep with my obsession of wanting to know the truth behind this story and I don't regret a single one. And even after finishing it, I found myself going back to the story, wondering and recalling little details. 

I can only praise Bring Me Back and I highly recommend it. 

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

A quick update on my moving situation: I'm surrounded by boxes and I still haven't rescued my books! However, the Husband has promised me a bookshelf with a ladder (a ladder!) so I am surviving... just! Good news is March is going to be such a great bookish month! I've actually read quite a few of these new releases already and I can tell you that some brilliant books are coming our way:

Ready to Fall by Marcella Pixley - March 1st

When Max Friedman's mother dies of cancer, instead of facing his loss, he imagines that her tumour has taken up residence in his brain. It's a terrible tenant - isolating him from family, distracting him in school, and taunton him mercilessly about his manhood. With the tumour in charge, Max implodes, slipping farther and farther away from reality.

Finally, Max is sent to the artsy, off-beat Baldwin School to regain his footing. He joins a group of theatre misfits in a steam-punk production of Hamlet where he becomes friends with Fish, a girl with pink hair and a troubled past, and The Monk, an edgy upperclassman who refuses to let go of the things he loves. For a while, Max almost feels happy. But his tumour is always lurking in the wings - until one night it knocks him down and Max is forced to face the truth, not just about the tumour, but about how hard it is to let go of the past. At turns lyrical, haunting, and triumphant, Ready to Fall is a story of grief, love, rebellion and starting fresh from acclaimed author Marcella Pixley. 

Why so excited: I've recently received a review copy of this book and I am very intrigued. It sounds like a very special story that will probably break my heart a little.

Order it now!

Flying Tips for Flightless Birds by Kelly McCaughrain - March 1st

From debut author Kelly McCaughrain comes a sweet and kooky romcom for fans of R. J. Palacio's Wonder, Sarah Crossan, and Susin Nielsen's We Are All Made of Molecules. Twins Finch and Birdie Franconi are stars of the flying trapeze. But when Birdie suffers a terrifying accident, Finch must team up with the geeky new kid, Hector Hazzard, to form an all-boys double act and save the family circus school. Together they learn to walk the high-wire of teen life and juggle the demands of friends, family, first love and facing up to who they are – all served up with a dash of circus-showbiz magic.

Why so excited: first, I love the cover. It's so colourful and cute. And second, I love the circus. And if that wasn't enough, this story has describes as witty and clever and I'm sure it will surprise me more than once. 

Order it now!

Almost Love by Louise O'neill - March 1st

When Sarah falls for Matthew, she falls hard.

So it doesn't matter that he's twenty years older. That he sees her only in secret. That, slowly but surely, she's sacrificing everything else in her life to be with him.

Sarah's friends are worried. Her father can't understand how she could allow herself to be used like this. And she's on the verge of losing her job.

But Sarah can't help it. She is addicted to being desired by Matthew.

And love is supposed to hurt.

Isn't it?

Why so excited: after two very important and powerful YA novels, Louise O'neill is releasing her first adult novel and the first reviews are saying it is honest, raw and bold. This will definitely jump to the top of my tbr pile.

Order it now!

The Key by Kathryn Hughes - March 1st

1956 

It's Ellen Crosby's first day as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young woman committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various 'cures' for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives for ever...

2006

Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum. Whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase belonging to a female patient who was admitted fifty years earlier. The shocking contents lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only she may have the power to put right...

It's time to discover what a million readers already know. No one grips your heart like Kathryn Hughes...

Why so excited: I've already read and reviewed this one and it is a very atmospheric, heartbreaking and intriguing read that will shock and surprise you. Check my full review here.

Order it now!

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton - March 8th

Juliette loves Nate.

She will follow him anywhere. She's even become a flight

attendant for his airline, so she can keep a closer eye on him.

They are meant to be.

The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing.

Because Juliette has a plan to win him back.

She is the perfect girlfriend.

And she'll make sure no one stops her from

getting exactly what she wants.

True love hurts, but Juliette knows it's worth all the pain...

Why so excited: I have a review copy of this and it's gonna be my next read. I am very intrigued by the sound of it and I've seen some smashing early reviews already. 

Order it now!

Bring Me Back by BA Paris - March 8th

The Disappearance

Twelve years ago Finn’s girlfriend disappeared.

The Suspicion

He told the police the truth about that night.

Just not quite the whole truth.

The Fear

Now Finn has moved on.

But his past won’t stay buried…

Why so excited: another one I've already read, and wow! It's a dark and twisted story that kept surprising me until the last page. Come back next week for my 5 stars review.

Order it now!

Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café by Debbie Johnson - March 8th

My name is Willow Longville. I live in a village called Budbury on the stunning Dorset coast with my mum Lynnie, who sometimes forgets who I am. I’m a waitress at the Comfort Food Café, which is really so much more than a café… it’s my home.

For Willow, the ramshackle café overlooking the beach, together with its warm-hearted community, offers friendship as a daily special and always has a hearty welcome on the menu. But when a handsome stranger blows in on a warm spring breeze, Willow soon realises that her quiet country life will be changed forever.

Why so excited: I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. I am so glad that Willow, who has been a secondary characters in all other stories, gets the spotlight in this one! Definitely one of my most anticipated books this year.

Order it now!

Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery by Cathy Bramley - March 22nd

Thirty-two-year-old Hetty Greengrass is the star around which the rest of her family orbits. Marriage, motherhood and helping Dan run Sunnybank Farm have certainly kept her hands full for the last twelve years. But when her daughter Poppy has to choose her inspiration for a school project and picks her aunt, not her mum, Hetty is left full of self-doubt.

Hetty’s always been generous with her time and until now, her biggest talent – baking deliciously moreish shortcrust pastry pies – has been limited to charity work and the village fete. But taking part in a competition run by Cumbria’s Finest to find the very best produce from the region might be just the thing to make her daughter proud... and reclaim something for herself.

Except that life isn’t as simple as producing the perfect pie. Changing the status quo isn’t easy – and with cracks appearing in her marriage and shocking secrets coming to light, Hetty must decide where her priorities really lie...

Why so excited: Well, Cathy Bramley is one of my favourite authors and her stories are like a ray of sunshine, so touching and up-lifting. This one sounds exactly like that and I cannot wait to discover it. 

Order it now!

The Fear by CL Taylor - March 22nd 

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

Why so excited: If Cathy Bramley is my go-to author for feel-good stories, CL Taylor is my go-to for psychological thrillers. They are always SO good. And early reviews are saying that this is her best one yet. Who wouldn't be excited?

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Last Letter Home by Rachel Gore - March 22nd

On holiday with friends, young historian Briony Andrews becomes fascinated with a wartime story of a ruined villa in the hills behind Naples. There is a family connection: her grandfather had been a British soldier during the Italian campaign of 1943 in that very area. Handed a bundle of letters that were found after the war, Briony sets off to trace the fate of their sender, Sarah Bailey.

In 1939, Sarah returns with her mother and sister from India, in mourning, to take up residence in the Norfolk village of Westbury. There she forms a firm friendship with Paul Hartmann, a young German who has found sanctuary in the local manor house, Westbury Hall. With the outbreak of war, conflicts of loyalty in Westbury deepen.

When, 70 years later, Briony begins to uncover Sarah and Paul’s story, she encounters resentments and secrets still tightly guarded. What happened long ago in the villa in the shadow of Vesuvius, she suspects, still has the power to give terrible pain…

Why so excited: I read this one a few weeks ago and I am still thinking about it. A very well-crafted dual-time story with love letters at its core. Who doesn't love a book with love letters?

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The Allotment Girls by Kate Thompson - March 22nd

The Allotment Girls is an inspiring and heartwarming novel of wartime hardship, friendship and fortitude from Kate Thompson, author of the Secrets of the Sewing Bee.

During the Second World War, life in the iconic Bryant & May match factory is grimy and tough. Annie, Rose, Pearl and Millie carry on making matches for the British Army, with bombs raining down around them.

Inspired by the Dig for Victory campaign, Annie persuades the owners to start Bryant & May allotment in the factory grounds. With plenty of sweat and toil, the girls eventually carve out a corner of the yard into a green plot full of life and colour.

In the darkest of times, the girls find their allotment a tranquil, happy escape. Using pierced dustbin lids to sieve through the shrapnel and debris, they bring about a powerful change, not just in the factory, but their own lives.

As the war rages on, the garden becomes a place of community, friendship – and deceit. As the garden thrives and grows, so do the girls' secrets...

Why so excited: this is Kate Thompson's fourth book and after having read and loved the three previous ones, I am, of course, really looking forward to this one. I always love getting these glimpses of what living in the East End was like during WWII.

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Tin Man by Sarah Winman - March 23rd

It begins with a painting won in a raffle: fifteen sunflowers, hung on the wall by a woman who believes that men and boys are capable of beautiful things.

And then there are two boys, Ellis and Michael, who are inseparable. And the boys become men, and then Annie walks into their lives, and it changes nothing and everything.

Tin Man sees Sarah Winman follow the acclaimed success of When God Was A Rabbit and A Year Of Marvellous Ways with a love letter to human kindness and friendship, loss and living.

Why so excited: Described as an exquisitely crafted tale of love and loss, Tin Man was first published last year as a hardback and the paperback is finally coming out this month. It looks and sounds stunning.

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