‘Of the four of them, only three remained. And there was no going backwards from there.’ 

Today is Publication Day for Laura Pearson's new book, Nobody's Wife, and I am sharing my review as part of the blog tour.

Title: Nobody's Wife

Author: Laura Pearson

Published: March 28th 2019 by Agora Books

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Emily and Josephine have always shared everything. They’re sisters, flatmates, and best friends. It’s the two of them against the world.

When Emily has the perfect wedding, and Josephine finds the perfect man, they know things will change forever. But nothing can prepare them for what, or who, one of them is willing to give up for love.

Four people. Three couples. Two sisters. One unforgivable betrayal.

From the best-selling author of Missing Pieces comes a heart-wrenching story about family, loyalty, and obsession that will have you racing to the finish.

Review: This is a story about secrets, obsession and betrayal. It is a dark story that stretches the relationship between two sisters to its limits. I found the dynamic between them fascinating. Especially how it changed as the story evolved and we knew more things about them. 

After reading both of her books, Missing Pieces and this one, I have to say that Laura Pearson is really good at writing about emotions and how they affect her characters. It's easy to picture them in my mind and even feel how they are feeling. 

Nobody's Wife is a short but very intense novel. The pace is slow but the emotions run high and as the tension builds, you really have no idea in which direction the story is going to go. Although the story made me feel uncomfortable in some moments and shocked me more than once, it held my attention until the very end. It's definitely a story that will make you think about it, even days after finishing it. 

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

About the Author:

Laura Pearson has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. She spent a decade living in London and working as a copywriter and editor for QVC, Expedia, Net a Porter, EE, and The Ministry of Justice. Now, she lives in Leicestershire, where she writes novels, blogs about her experience of breast cancer (www.breastcancerandbaby.com), runs The Motherload Book Club, and tries to work out how to raise her two children.

Title: The Magnificient Mrs Mayhew 

Author: Milly Johnson

Published: March 7th 2019 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Behind every successful man is a woman.

Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

Sophie Mayhew looks like she has the perfect life. Wife of rising political star John F Mayhew, a man who is one step away from the top job in the government, her glamour matches his looks, power, breeding and money. But John has made some stupid mistakes along the way, some of which are threatening to emerge. Still, all this can still be swept under the carpet as long as Sophie 'the trophy' plays her part in front of the cameras.

But the words that come out of Sophie’s mouth one morning on the doorstep of their country house are not the words the spin doctors put in there. Bursting out of the restrictive mould she has been in since birth, Sophie flees to a place that was special to her as a child, a small village on the coast where she intends to be alone.

But once there, she finds she becomes part of a community that warms her soul and makes her feel as if she is breathing properly for the first time. Sophie knows she won't be left in peace for long. Now she must decide: where does her real future lie?

Review: The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew is a delightful story. I had such a great time reading it that I completely forgot about anything else! And once I finished it, I actually had to remind myself a couple of times that Sophie and all the other characters were not real and that I would not find their latest adventures in the newspaper.

Sophie Mayhew is a fantastic, multi-layered and intriguing character. I loved getting to know her both in the present time and through the flashbacks to her school days in the cold and rigid boarding school, St Bathsheba. Her upbringing and her family had taught her to be a good and dutiful wife to a powerful man, but deep down, she knew that something was not right with her life. It was very inspiring to read about her journey of self-discovery.

This is a story of contrasts, we go from the cold and target-oriented world of politics, in which everyone has a hidden agenda, to the warm and supportive community of the village of Little Loste. I think these opposite settings complement each other really well and make for a very interesting story, with plenty of twists and fascinating insights to both worlds.

I loved this story, it reminded me that no dream is too small or too big, you just need to go for it. Plus, Milly Johnson's writing is a joy a to read, engaging and with the perfect dash of drama and magic. Definitely a story that will leave you with a warm heart and a very positive vibe.  

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

About the Author:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. As well as being an author of 16 published novels, 2 short story books and 2 novellas, she is also a copywriter for the greetings card industry, a poem and joke-writer, a columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016 and the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her latest book - 'The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew' deals with a woman who has been conditioned since a child to be little more than a support for an important man. But there is much more to Mrs Mayhew than anyone who knows her - even her own family - could ever believe.

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Two Silver Crosses by Beryl Kingston. This story was originally published in 1992 but Agora Books is publishing it again with a brand new image. 

Title: Two Silver Crosses

Author: Beryl Kingston 

Published: March 21st 2019 by Agora Books

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: ‘Nobody is to know where we are. You must forget England. That part of your lives is over.’ 

Twins Ginny and Emily Holborn have everything they could ever need in their Wolverhampton home: a loving family, a garden to play in and a staff waiting to attend to their every need. Until, one summer day in 1926, they disappear without a trace. 

Ten years later, bright-eyed solicitor Charlie Commoner is given his first job: track down the still-missing Holborn twins. Despatched to France, he’s left to unravel a web of infidelity, mystery, and terrifying family secrets. 

Let bestselling author Beryl Kingston sweep you away on a journey from London to Paris, through tragedy and triumph in the search for two sisters wearing two silver crosses. 

Review: Two Silver Crosses is a historical read set between the end of WWI and the beginning of WWII. Twins Ginny and Emily are born in a world of privilege, with a French mother and an English father. They grow up in a big mansion in the English countryside but when their father dies, they need to flight to France with their mother and start from zero. 

This story really starts ten years after that though. When their grandfather dies and includes them in his will, they need to be located. Something that seems almost impossible and as the search follows, there are multiple obstacles, many misunderstandings and plenty of near misses. 

What I enjoyed the most in this story were all the historical references. We learned about many relevant events in that time and how they affected these characters. I found especially interesting to read how the youth in France organized themselves to fight against fascism. 

However, the pace of the story was a bit slow. Although there was a lot of going on sometimes, especially in the middle part during the search, I felt that the progress in the actual plot was slow. But  I have to say that it still hold my curiosity until the end and I wondered many times how everything was going to end. All in all, Two Silver Crosses is an interesting historical read with lots of secrets and twists.

Graeme Simsion's new book, The Rosie Result, is the triumphant final instalment of the internationally bestselling series that began with The Rosie Project.

Title: The Rosie Result (Don Tillman #3) 

Author: Graeme Simsion

Published: April 4th 2019 by Penguin 

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: 'The phone call signalling an escalation in the Hudson Adjustment Problem came at 10:18 a.m. on a Friday morning . . .'

Meet Don Tillman, the genetics professor with a scientific approach to everything. But he's facing a set of human dilemmas tougher than the trickiest of equations.

Right now he is in professional hot water after a lecture goes viral; his wife of 4,380 days, Rosie, is about to lose the research job she loves; and - the most serious problem of all - their eleven-year-old son, Hudson, is struggling at school. He's a smart kid, but socially awkward-not fitting in.

Fortunately, Don's had a lifetime's experience of not fitting in. And he's going to share the solutions with Hudson. He'll need the help of old friends and new, lock horns with the education system, and face some big questions about himself. As well as opening the world's best cocktail bar.

Big-hearted, hilarious and exuberantly life-affirming, The Rosie Result is a story of overcoming life's obstacles with a little love and a lot of overthinking.

Review: it's been a few years since I read The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect but as soon as I picked The Rosie Result, I felt right at home, surrounded by old friends. I really enjoyed the previous two books and this one is the perfect ending to a highly entertaining, fun and touching series. 

The Rosie Result takes place several years after the last book, and Don and Rosie's son, Hudson, is eleven. At the beginning of the book, they decide to move back to Australia from New York. The main reason is Rosie's new and important new job. But after a few months in Melbourne, nothing is working out as they had planned, so Don needs to take action, can he actually find one solution for all their problems?

I always enjoy reading about Don and how he analyzes his problems to the last detail and tries to find the most logical solution. He shows once again, what a big heart he has and I loved discovering his dad side in this story. He has evolved incredibly as a character since we first met him and I am pretty fond of him and everything he has achieved. Actually, the same goes for Rosie, as she has been a key character in this series. I love how they interact with each other, how they stand together when facing problems, and what a strong and clever woman she is. 

Their son Hudson plays a big role in the book too and I had a great time getting to know him. He really taught Don, Rosie and all of us a few lessons. The story handles complex issues about autism, like what it means to be "labelled" as autistic, how others react to this, and it includes several characters with different views and opinions about this, which I found very interesting. It also touches on other serious issues like the challenges of working mothers and the anti-doctors and anti-vaccination views. A lot of food for thought and a lot to learn. 

The Rosie Result is a joy to read, funny, life-affirming and inspiring. I am going to miss Don Tillman, his family and his friends. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

The Day We Met is an immensely moving and heart-warming epic love story perfect for fans of Josie Silver's One Day in December and Zoë Folbigg's The Note. Published in ebook last month, it's out now in paperback too and here are my thoughts on this story:

Title: The Day We Met 

Author: Roxie Cooper

Published: March 7th 2019 by Ebury Press

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Stephanie and Jamie are meant to be. The problem is they're both with other people...

Stephanie doesn’t believe in fate, true love or living happily ever after. She’s content enough being engaged to Matt. But then she meets Jamie, who understands her more than anyone else ever has.

Jamie is happily married to his childhood sweetheart Helen and believes in everything Stephanie doesn’t. So why does he have such a strong connection with Stephanie?

When Stephanie and Jamie meet one fateful weekend in 2006 it will change everything...

Ten years. Two people. One epic love story. 

Review: Stephanie and Jamie's was definitely an epic love story and I absolutely loved it. I immediately could feel a very special connection between them and as the years passed and they kept meeting once per year, I couldn't but root for them, even when they were still committed to their own partners. 

I found Stephanie to be a very interesting and complex character. She worked really hard on learning to love herself and she deserved a lot better in life than what she got. She was inspiring and she made this book a very special one. In contrast, I didn't feel that connected to Jamie, especially in the first part of the book. I did love how he kind of wake Stephanie up and made her realize she was worth a lot more but while reading his story, I kept getting mad at him. She was a lot braver than him.

As you can see, I was pretty invested in this story. I went through so many emotions while reading it and it took me by surprise several times. This is a very emotional book, so make sure to have some tissue ready, there will be tears. 

The Day We Met is a very well written love story that will make you ask yourself many questions. It's up-lifting but heart-breaking too. It's honest but complex. It feels real from the first page to the last. And just like love itself, it's complicated and messy but totally worth it. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Today I am sharing my review for A Wedding at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson. This is the sixth and final installment in the Comfort Food Cafe series, which I have enjoyed immensely:

Title: A Wedding at the Comfort Food Cafe 

Author: Debbie Johnson

Published: March 7th 2019 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Wedding bells ring out in Budbury as the Comfort Food Café and its cosy community of regulars are gearing up for a big celebration…

But Auburn Longville doesn’t have time for that! Between caring for her poorly mum, moving in with her sister and running the local pharmacy, life is busy enough – and it’s about to get busier. Chaos arrives in the form of a figure from her past putting her quaint village life and new relationship with gorgeous Finn Jensen in jeopardy. It’s time for Auburn to face up to some life changing decisions.

Settle in for a slice of wedding cake at the Comfort Food Café – a place where friendships are made for life and nobody ever wants to leave.

Review: I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. Although I am sad that this is the last installment in the series, I think it was the right decision from the author, to end on a high note. Through the series, we have read about 6 amazing women, I have cheered for them and I have shared their joy at finding their own happy endings, and they will for sure keep a little piece of my heart.

But let's talk about this story now. It focuses on Auburn, who moved to Budbury a few month ago to help her sister Willow care for their mother. We don't know much about her, other than she has quite a wild past. I was really curious to find out more about her before Budbury, especially as quite a big secret is revealed quite early in the story. 

This soon creates a lot of problems in her life and affects her new relationship. As we got to know more about this secret, I really had no idea how her story was going to end, as not everything was as black and white as it first looked like. And although I didn't always think that Auburn made the best choices, I liked that she was aware of her faults and always tried to be honest with everyone.

But my favourite part of the story was the wedding (and all the preparations leading up to it) of two of my favorite characters in the series, it was a great example of how lovely and supportive this community is and how they are aways ready to help each other. I loved catching up with all the regular characters. It was the perfect end to a gorgeous series. The Comfort Food Cafe might not be a real location but it has become a haven to escape to for a few hours, where there's always good food and lovely people. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

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