Book Review: The Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins

I absolutely loved this book.  It was somehow creepy and comforting. Gripping and enthralling.  I loved both timelines, in the present, and in the 1300s.  There wasn’t a slow moment. 

The modern timeline focuses on twins, Leah and Zoe.  Although Zoe is the successful one at the beginning of the book, Leah manages to dominate their lives, making decisions for them both without consulting her sister.  Zoe goes along with things to look after her apparently vulnerable twin and gets pulled right out of her comfort zone. But it is her perceptiveness that drives the story forwards as they settle into Ravenscraig Castle in Scotland, learn to live with an otherworldly presence, and discover the castle’s awful secret.

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Book Review: First Born by Will Dean

I love Will Dean’s books, and First Born did not disappoint. It’s a twisty thriller about an identical twin, who discovers her sister has died. Molly suffers from anxiety and hypervigilance. So when she has to unexpectedly get on a plane and travel to New York from the UK after the death of her identical twin, there are many obstacles to overcome. When she arrives in New York she shows an unexpected level of bravery. Getting to know the people in her sister’s life, she as she tries to find out what happened, watches everyone’s reactions as they are presented with the face of the woman they are mourning, and tries to find something that will help the police catch her killer.

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Book Review: A Little Christmas Panto by Angela Britnell

This book was great fun, a real feel-good read with plenty of light heartedness and smiles along with the emotions.

Rosey gave up a career as an international piano soloist in an ill-fated attempt to save her failing marriage. She now lives with her mother, the eccentric Anna, in Polcarne and works as music director for the local panto.

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Book Review: Happy Endings at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett

I loved this one. It was so magical with the celebrity glow cast by singer Aurora Storm, the cosy atmosphere of Mermaids Point, and the fabulous family support system.

This is the final book in the series, but apart from the first scene, which has a big cast of characters, it didn’t matter than I hadn’t read the other books. The Aurora, Nick and the others won me over straight away, and as soon as Aurora showed up, I was hooked.

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Book Review: Liar by Nicola Lowe

This one was a slow burn for me at first, but when it really got going I loved it. Amber Carmichael is an incredibly sweet-natured character. She’s impossible not to like and almost too good to be true. She does everything right. Cares for the end-of-life patients she nurses, is a good friend, and lives cleanly. She doesn’t connect with anyone romantically but is happy with that, until Ben is hired as a counsellor at the hospice she works at.

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Book Review: The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

The Women Could Fly is an original and introspective deep dive into a dystopia where the control of women is central to the structure of society and all women are restricted and monitored in case they are witches.Josephine is approaching the age of 30. At 30, all unmarried women have to register to be monitored, give up their autonomy and freedom, and their careers. Josephine’s mother disappeared 14 years ago and that automatically puts her under suspicion of being a witch, but she doesn’t want to get married.

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Book Review: The Fall by Rachael Blok

I was keen to read this book, because it’s set locally to me. I haven’t read anything by the author before, but I really enjoyed it and will be seeking out her other books. This is a thriller set in and around a Cathedral. Willow has arranged an exhibition in the Cathedral, about the history of an old psychiatric facility for children, that used to operate nearby. This is a big career break for her and, by coincidence, it ties in with her twin sister’s wedding in the same Cathedral, the same week. All the visiting members of the family arrange to stay in a local guest house while the celebrations begin. But when Willow arrives to set up the exhibition late at night, she witnesses a man fall from the cathedral roof.

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Book Review: The Key to my Heart by Lia Louis

The Key to my Heart is a lovely, sad Romance about Natalie, who lost her husband Russ in an accident. Natalie’s friends think she should be over her grief by now. They want her to meet someone new, party, date and have fun. But Natalie isn’t ready. Instead, she goes to St Pancras Station in London twice a week, to play the piano to the strangers walking past, and drink coffee in Goode’s cafe.

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Book Review: Do No Harm by Jack Jordan

This is one of those books, where I’d already spent a lot of time thinking about what I would do in the character’s position, before I’d even got my hands on my copy! It’s such a fascinating concept and a brilliant example of a ‘what if’ kind of book.

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