Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom

Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom

**** 4 stars

Review

I was really surprised by this book! I was contacted by the author asking if I would like a copy for an honest review and I thought not my usual genre but it did sound very interesting.
I really enjoyed it!

Athena lives in a world devoid of men, they were killed off 50 years ago from a virus and now after all of these years they may be able to bring them back. But do they really want to? Or even should they bring them back?

A totally original storyline, very well written and engrossing. Showing how humanity can fair without man and their desires for power, money and war.
Many biblical references were included in the book.

Unfortunately in this day and age with our current leaders, this book shows how we could all live in peace and with no poverty. I am not suggesting getting rid of all men, just maybe certain ones and have more women in power. A very attractive prospect.

A very good, interesting and unique read.

The Cherries by D.B Carter

The Cherries by D.B. Carter

***** 5 stars!

Review

I finished this fabulous book last night, through my tears. One of the best romantic books I have read in a long time.

Susan and her mother Marian move to live with Marian's best friend Viv after losing everything. There she meets Luke who lives in the house next door, The Cherries. A friendship soon blooms and then love comes along! They start to spend lots of  time together and make plans for their future. But their love is certainty not smooth sailing.

A beautiful Christian story with warm, wonderful characters who you come to love.
This book tackles lots of issues, sexuality, bullying, faith and secrets.
I absolutely loved this book and will certainly be reading other books by this author in the future.

Fabulous read! 5 stars!

Torment by Mark Tilbury

Torment by Mark Tilbury

**** 4 stars

Review

Beth and David had a comfortable life all that was missing was a longed for child. And now Beth is pregnant again  after suffering a couple of miscarriages. So this should be the happiest time of their lives but a few disturbing incidents prove that they are being stalked, but neither of them has any idea why or by whom.
Beth's friend Kim moves in with them after a brutal attack by her boyfriend and Beth starts to feel a little bit safer having someone with her.
But the stalking intensifies to a terrible and tragic end. Who can Beth trust?

A brilliant edge of your seat thriller which I really enjoyed. Intense with great characters.
I would definitely recommend this author and cannot wait to read his other titles.
Great read!

Struggles of Psycho by Rhyam O'Bryam

Struggles of Psycho by Rhyam O'Bryan

**** 4 stars

Review

This was a very dark read and told the story of Amy Phillips. She is arrested for the death of Mike Patterson, her lover Ivy's brother.
As the police start to question her, she insists on starting her story at the very beginning, which is taking days.
Amy, Ivy and Mike met many years ago when they were children and the history between them is very manipulative, with Any being the manipulator.
Her character is very disturbed and almost evil in the things she puts Ivy and Mike through.
She enjoys her control over them and years later this ends in a very violent act.
As she tells her story to the police they are never quite sure what to believe and if she is manipulating them also. She is very detailed and explicit in her details, hoping to get a reaction from them.

This was a good thriller and showed how psycho's can operate and make people do what they want them to do, and how their mind works.
Would definitely recommend, but need to include a warning that some of the sex scenes were very explicit in places.

My Daughter's Wedding by Claire Baldry

My Daughter's Wedding by Claire Baldry

***** 5 stars!

Review

This was such a wonderful warm read.
The first part of the book was about Angie and Martin, who met at a family funeral. And shows how their relationship blossomed despite the obstacles they faced, and Angie's daughter's disapproval of her mother's behaviour at her age.
The second part was Carly's story, of her life in care and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend.
The two stories come together in a beautiful ending which brought me to tears.

A well written story with vibrant characters who I loved and was completely invested in.
I love Claire's books as she writes about love in our mature years. Which also shows how second chance love is available to us all.
A 5 star read which I thoroughly recommend to everyone.

They Come At Night by Nick Clausen

They Come At Night by Nick Clausen


***** 5 stars!

Review


This was a really good horror novella, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Four teenagers go to spend the weekend at a cottage by the sea. Each night strange and sinister things start to happen, and the last night it ends in total horrific disaster.
Do the locals know what is happening and is this why the inhabitants leave at this time each year? And the ones that stay, have they learnt to protect themselves? But protect themselves against what?

An excellent original storyline which kept me captivated throughout.
Loved it and would definitely recommend.
A 5 star read!

Human Flesh by Nick Clausen

Human Flesh by Nick Clausen

***** 5 stars!

Review

This was a relatively short book, but it packed one hell of a punch!
I thought I would take a little look at it last night and once started I just couldn't stop reading. I loved everything about this book which is what I would call a thriller/horror novella.

Hugh and Otha go to spend their holiday with their grandfather, after a ski trip was cancelled.
They haven't seen him for a while as he lives on a remote farm, and doesn't leave it very often.
The book is very different from anything I have read before, as it is told in the form of emails, letters and blog posts. As evidence of the trial which was carried out after the horrific event.
We go back and see what happened to Hugh and Otha, and what they found out about their grandfather and the death of their grandmother.

A superbly written story, with very creepy characters and myths that had me jumping at any sound as I was reading it.
5 stars! Great read!

Lost Girl by Billy McLaughlin

Lost Girl by Billy McLaughlin

***** 5 star

Review

This is the first book in the DI Phil Morris mystery series. I started with the 4th and just had to go back to the beginning as I loved the 4th so much and this 1st book, certainly did not disappoint.

Set on the streets of Glasgow, Kate finds herself homeless after leaving her husband and son behind. She had been working as a prostitute, but gets fired and then gets the blame for a fire that happened at the lap dancing club she worked at, for a very shady and ruthless character.
She is taken under the wing of an older homeless woman, who is not all she seems either.

A fantastic thriller, with lots of twists and turns which kept me reading until the early hours of the morning as I just couldn't put this book down.
I now have the rest of the series and I am very eager to read them.

A great read! 5 stars from me!!

Milton In Purgatory by Edward Vass

Milton In Purgatory by Edward Vass

**** 4 stars

Review

Another great read from Fairlight Moderns which I am thoroughly enjoying.
A well written and imaginative story which I read in one sitting and which had me laughing out loud many times.

Poor Milton gets knocked over and killed on his way to work one morning and then he wakes up! In purgatory.
The adventures he has there and the people he meets are truly inspiring and funny to read about, many great characters are portrayed throughout the book.

I would definitely recommend this book for an amusing read and also, maybe for a little soul searching too.
Great read!

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

** 2 stars

Review

I am trying to read a classic each month, as I feel I should rather than really wanting to.
I really tried with this one, I did finish it, but really struggled with it.

This is set in Jamaica in the 1830's and it says it was inspired by Jane Eyre which I really do not see any comparison at all.
A young woman Antoinette is forced into marriage and is then driven to madness. Or was this in her genes and she was always going to become insane, just like her mother before her.

The writing was alright, but unfortunately for me I just found it lacking in depth and characters.
Not one to recommend I am afraid.

The Devil on the Doorstep by Annabelle Forest

The Devil on the Doorstep by Annabelle Forest

**** 4 stars

Review

This is the story of Annabelle who became part of a sex cult through her mother at 7 years old.
Colin Batley was the leader of this cult and started having sex with Annabelle when she was just 11 years old.
Sometimes shockingly including her mother as well.
Then at 18 she was forced into prostitution, while Colin lived off the proceeds.
The church that Batley founded was based on the works of Aleister Crowleys Book of the Law.

The book shows every stage of Annabelle's life and her abuse up until she finally recognises that she is being abused and that she doesn't have to continue to live like this.

A very honest account of a poor girl brainwashed into believing in this cult and religion.
A good, but hard read.

Midnight by Stephen Leather

Midnight by Stephen Leather

***** 5 stars!

Review

This is the second book in the Jack Nightingale series of supernatural thrillers.

In this one Jack has to find his sister, he never knew he had and to tell her that their father also sold her soul to a demon. But a different demon that Jack's soul was sold to.
Jack was a negotiator in the police force before he become a private investigator. He used his skills to negotiate with the demon to save his own soul.
Now he has to track down the demon that owns his sister's soul and try to negotiate with him or her.

These books are a great way to escape, they give you a thrilling ride and keep you up all night reading.
I will definitely be carrying on with this series!

Lullaby by Leila Slimani

Lullaby by Leila Slimani

*** 3 stars

Review

This was a very dark story, from the very first page.
You knew what was going to happen at the very beginning but not how the character got to this point.
It was an uncomfortable read at times and told through flash backs.
The narrator talks a little about her past, but you never really get to know what made her commit such a tragic act. The narrator just wanted to belong to a family, but at a high cost to the family she chose.

I felt that the book ended with too many loose ends not tied up, and it also ended very abruptly.
Not one of my favourite reads this year and it appears to be a marmite book from some of the reviews that I have read.

Suspicion by Leigh Russell

Suspicion by Leigh Russell

**** 4 stars

Review

I was very lucky to receive this book from Bloodhound Books to review and I enjoyed it very much.

Louise is very happy and content with her life until a journalist shows her photo's of her husband having an affair with his secretary.
Her whole world comes crashing down around her. She will do whatever it takes to save her marriage and the life she loves. But with all of her paranoia she finds out that things are not what they seem, and tries to help the police find who is responsible for the deaths of two women.

A great thriller which had me reading into the early hours with an ending that will blow your mind.
Excellent read!