The Map of Us - Jules Preston

Description

A story of love, line graphs and lost directions

Violet North is wonderfully inconvenient. Abandoned by her family and lost in an imagined world of moors and adventure, her life changes in the space of just 37 words exchanged with a stranger at her front door.

Decades later, Daniel Bearing has inherited his father's multi-million pound business, and is utterly lost. He has no idea who he is or where his life is headed.

When Violet’s granddaughter’s marriage falls apart, Tilly, always adept with numbers, compiles a detailed statistical report to pinpoint why. But the Compatibility Index Tilly creates has unforeseen consequences for everyone in her world.

Tilly and Daniel share a secret too. 10.37am, April 22nd.
Soon, a complex web of secrets and lies is exposed and an adventure begins with a blue typewriter…

Review

It was probably the mention of and a picture of a typewriter that drew me to this book - but I am so glad it did. Such a quirky and unexpected gem of a read which I enjoyed immensely. I feel the world would be missing something without this book!

I read the whole thing in one day. There aren't chapters as such and some are only a page long. So when you tell yourself - one more chapter......... I just could not put it down, it made me laugh out loud and also in places a tiny bit sad, but not for long.

Violet is unable to travel anywhere, even outside her own house so she begins  to write imaginary travel books. Only problem is the typewriter she has borrowed -  the "e" sticks, so she avoids words like nose, eyes, and kissed. But still she writes.

Years later Violet's granddaughter Tilly writes a detailed statistical report on her failed marriage. Her mother sends her letters about the latest washing machine, there have been over 70 of them as her father is a sand sculpturer and as you can imagine it plays havoc with the machines. Tilly's brother Jack is the world authority on the colour blue.

This may sound pretty random - and it is but in a really, really good way.  So many of the office scenes with Tilly's co-workers rang true with me. "She was the bridesmaid at Trish's wedding, so it was moved." Just one line, but it says so much. Such fantastic eloquent writing that makes the words just float past you in a way you don't want to end. I can't wait to read more from Jules Preston.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book which is out on 12 July. 

Blog Tour! What Kitty Did Next - Carrie Kablean #LoveBooksGroupTours

I'm so pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour today for this wonderful book

Description

If you loved Pride and Prejudice, you will love What Kitty Did Next
England, 1813 Nineteen-year-old Catherine Bennet lives in the shadow of her two eldest sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, who have both made excellent marriages. No one expects Kitty to amount to anything. Left at home in rural Hertfordshire with her neurotic and nagging mother, and a father who derides her as silly and ignorant, Kitty is lonely, diffident and at a loss as to how to improve her situation. When her world unexpectedly expands to London and the Darcys' magnificent country estate in Derbyshire, she is overjoyed. Keen to impress this new society, and to change her family's prejudice, Kitty does everything she can to improve her mind and manners and for the first time feels liked and respected. However, one fateful night at Pemberley, a series of events and misunderstandings conspire to ruin Kitty's reputation. But Kitty has learnt from her new experiences and what she does next does next will not only surprise herself, but everyone else too.

Based on Jane Austen's much-loved characters, this is the story of one young woman's struggle to overcome the obstacles of her time and place and truly find herself.

Review

I began to read this book with a little trepidation - would it live up to Jane Austen? I have read other books which are a follow on to great works and been disappointed - but not this time - I LOVED it.

I cannot imagine how you go about writing a novel where the speech and nuances of the characters have to transport you to 19th Centrury England, but this book did just that. So faithfully did it recreate the characters of Pride and Prejudice that I began to forget it wasn't written by Austen herself.

I loved catching up with Lizzie and Jane to see what happened to them after their respective marriages and of course the dashing Darcy. Never once did I think "that would never have happened" but rather I had a train of thought of "so, that's what happened next" lol!

We catch up too with Georgiana, Darcy's sister. When Georgiana takes Kitty into her confidence and reveals what went on between Lydia and Wickham and her brother's part in it, I was at first confused. Because I forgot of course, that I as the reader knew what had happened, but not everyone in the book did! When Kitty gets invited to Pemberley a terrible misunderstanding occurs. So true to Austen was this tale, that I felt the author really must have found an unpublished manuscript by Austen.

The social history aspect of the book was wonderful. So many well written details that brought the book to life. I loved the character of Felicia and her announcement to Kitty that one day she will dare not to ride side saddle!!!

As I neared the end of the book I was delighted in the outcome for Kitty - I had a little tear in my eye. The very ending made me smile so very much. I don't do spoilers so you will need to read it for yourself - really! if you have been wondering what happened when Pride and Prejudice ended this is the book for you.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars - Carrie Kablean is a very worthy successor to Jane Austen.

My thanks to Love Books Group for an advance copy of the book for review.

Follow the other bloggers on the #ReadingParty blog tour!

Your Closest Friend - Karen Perry

Description

She saved your life.

One hot, humid night in London, Cara is caught up in a wave of terror and chaos. Until a hand reaches out - and a stranger pulls her to safety.

She knows your darkest secrets.

Taking refuge with her unlikely rescuer, Cara shares more of herself with Amy than she ever has with anyone, including her husband. But after the hours of darkness are over, she can't remember exactly what secrets she revealed. Cara attempts to put it all behind her. But cracks begin to show in her life and marriage, and she starts to receive anonymous threats.

She's your closest friend.

As Cara's life begins to skid out of control, Amy reappears, offering to help. Amy is only person Cara can turn to, who knows her hidden side. Amy saved her that night. But what if the biggest threat to Cara is the stranger she's invited into her home?

She's your worst nightmare.

Review

This book begins with a scene that felt only too real. A terror attack in London and Cara is seeing it unfold before her when someone pulls her inside a shop and saves her life.

We find out that Cara works as a radio producer and the next day a special programme is aired featuring the events of the terror attack. The person who saved Cara rings in and reveals that she will keep the secret Cara shared with her safe!

Slowly we see Cara's life begin to unfold, both the past and the present events before she witnessed the terror attack. Cara needs a nanny and it turns out that the stranger who saved her is just that so she invites her to live in her home. Meanwhile the stranger begins to find out a little more about Cara's past.

I found this book to be a slow starter after the initial horror of the opening scenes. There was nothing for me to endear me to Cara - I found her very shallow and self serving and wasn't really interested in what happened to her or her life.

Once Amy - the stranger, begins to find out more about Cara's past the book got more interesting and there were two twists - or even a double twist that made me sit up and take note. The end of the book was very taught and the physiological thriller aspect of the book really came to life with a nail biting scene. I was wondering how this was all going to end. Finally we get closure on what has been happening in the book - or do we? as a terrific final twist is revealed. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy the book but felt it took me a long time to get through.

My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book for review.

The Little Cafe in Copenhagen - Julie Caplin

Description

Welcome to the little cafe in Copenhagen where the smell of cinnamon fills the air, the hot chocolate is as smooth as silk and romance is just around the corner…

Publicist Kate Sinclair’s life in London is everything she thought she wanted: success, glamour and a charming boyfriend. Until that boyfriend goes behind her back and snatches a much sought-after promotion from her.Heartbroken and questioning everything, Kate needs to escape.

From candles and cosy nights in to romantic late-night walks through the beautiful cobbled streets of Copenhagen, Kate discovers how to live life ‘the Danish way’. Can the secrets of hygge and happiness lead her to her own happily-ever-after?

Review

I enjoyed The Little Brooklyn Bakery so much that I just had to dip into another one of Julie Caplin's books. I thought as the writing was so evocative of New York then why not see what Copenhagen was like. Somewhere I want to go and really this was the next best thing to a trip there. Usually I don't read books about places I haven't been as I can't get a clear picture in my head. Yet again I found myself on google earth as I just had to see for myself the places being so beautifully described, and I then felt I really need to go there

Although this book is a prequel to The Little Brooklyn Bakery it stands alone. Sophie from the next book is in the story. A few references are made to her life, which of course I knew the outcome of, having read the latest book first. But it didn't affect the story.

At the beginning of the book we meet Kate and find she is in a secret relationship - because they work together. After Josh breaks her heart both professionally and privately I felt a kinship with Kate. From word one I was on her side willing her to do well at whatever else was coming her way. It turns out it was a trip to Copenhagen with a press delegation, which she was in charge of. She's nervous and I did think - what could go wrong? We soon find out and it really was most amusing and heartwarming all at the same time. I loved how the group bonded and supported Kate when the enemy arrived.

I was loving the Copenhagen experience when all too soon the book relocates to London. At first I was disappointed, but what followed was a really great romcom. I am definitely going to be reading the next book in the series - a little bit of escapism beautifully crafted.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of the book.

The Memory Chamber - Holly Cave

Description

True death is a thing of the past...

Now you can spend the rest of eternity re-living your happiest memories: that first kiss, falling in love, the birth of your children, enjoyed on loop for ever and ever.

Isobel is a Heaven Architect, and she helps dying people create afterlives from these memories. So when she falls for Jarek, one of her terminal - and married - clients, she knows that while she cannot save him, she can create the most beautiful of heavens, just for him.

But when Jarek's wife is found dead, Isobel uncovers a darker side of the world she works within, and she can trust no one with what she finds...

Review

I do like books with an element of the future world. In this instance the book covers Isobel who is a heaven architect - she creates heavens for dying people so they can relive their best times over and over again after they are dead.

I wasn't sure quite how this concept would be possible, but I was willing to go with it. Unfortunately I was not prepared for Isobel being such a one dimensional character. To begin with I even wondered if she was actually a robot or AI life form - then she ate a banana. Of course in the future maybe AI will be eating food stuffs! She really was a little bit of a prima donna and I had trouble liking the character. 

Then she met Jarek and I felt she got worse - all the principles she seemed to need other people to live up to suddenly went out of the window in her own life,  and I was fearing that so would the book as I was finding it all a little boring.

Fortunately for me the book took a sudden turn of suspense when Jarek's wife was found dead. We were also thrust into some heavy futuristic happenings, as Isobel undertook something that had never been attempted before. The writing was very convincing even though I had no idea if this would ever actually be possible to attempt. I think this is down to the author having a science background which began to show at this point more.  Finally I began to have a little sympathy for Isobel and bond with her character somewhat.

I was then on a race to finish the book because it was one of the best thriller story lines I have read. It was certainly an unusual setting and I was unable to second guess the outcome. Lots more of the science fiction aspect was apparent and I really enjoyed reading the book more from this point onwards. I can see this would make a really good film as it is more of a visual storyline, however the writing was so descriptive, I really felt like I could see exactly what Isobel saw too.

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars but reduced it to 4 as it took so long to get going for me and reel me in. My thanks go to Netgalley and Quercus for a copy of the book for review.

Those Other Women - Nicola Moriarty

Description

Poppy never thought her husband wanted children - especially not with her best friend.

When Poppy arrives home to find her husband and best friend sitting side by side at her kitchen table, she thinks they're planning her a birthday surprise . . .

Little does she know, they're waiting to tell her about their affair. And worse, that they're having a baby.

Now everywhere she goes, mothers are reminding her of their betrayal.

So when Poppy meets a woman who wants to help her fight back, it seems like a good idea.

But how well does she know her?

Is she there to help . . . or does she have an agenda of her own?

Review

I really enjoyed reading this book - so much so I finished it in a few sittings. I thought the characters in this second book by the author were much more developed than in the "Fifth Letter", we even get to read a kind of diary that one of characters is writing, and all I could think was how do you go about writing something this realistic? 

The blurb for the book is really only the tip of the iceberg as to what happens in this book. It explores closed Facebook groups and what goes on in them (moles and all) - and in this instance how it can spill over into real life situations. I thought the author handled it all incredibly well, especially as running alongside it were a couple of other equally intriguing story lines. Basically a tale of he said, she said, what you think you saw and all those other tales of miscommunication and day to day life. We read all the time about people who are braver online to voice an opinion than in real life. Yes, there were some bitchy characters - but then there are in life too!

It was all there in black and white and really how could anyone get it all so wrong? - but as readers, we too were sucked in. When you begin to see the story lines from all sides - you realise you just never know the truth. I wasn't expecting the author to tell the story from different characters viewpoints, so when it happened it made it all that more interesting.

I don't do spoilers so I won't elaborate other than to say there was another storyline covered here that I don't think I've read in this type of book before, it just made the book so much more thought provoking than it already was.

I'm giving this book five out of five stars and my thanks to Penguinrandomhouse for a copy of the book for review.

The Dark path (You Were Made For This) - Michelle Sacks

Description

A bold, sharp, gripping debut about a couple whose perfect life in the Swedish countryside is not what it seems…

In an idyllic house in a Swedish wood, Merry and her husband are building their new dream life with their young baby, far away from events that overshadowed their old life in New York. And they’re happy, aren’t they? Blissfully, blissfully happy.

When Merry’s childhood friend Frank comes to stay, Frank barely recognises her old friend Merry, pureeing baby food, baking, living the Swedish dream. But little by little, cracks begin to show in her carefully constructed fairy tale. And Frank starts to see things others might miss. Dark and treacherous things.

And then a terrible tragedy unfolds…

Review

I should have seen the warning signs in the blurb when it said "Dark and treacherous things" but I really wasn't prepared for how disturbing this book is. It will depend on your own sense of the world and the fact that it is only a book - but for me it was a very difficult read in parts. I found myself gasping out - "no, no" so on that level the author has written a good book to invoke such reactions from me.

The story begins quiet, calmly, and all seems well with the world. Little by little it begins to twist and turn and eventually it all comes crashing down. If that wasn't enough there are still some twists the author has to reveal to the reader.

I hated all of the characters - I didn't warm to any of them. They were all so self absorbed and each in their own way controlling of others. Again the author has written them well to evoke this reaction in me. But did I want to read about them, or enjoy reading about them, maybe not. What I had to know though was what was going to happen and when it did - who did it!

A very different read for me and one that at times I did not relish - a story I am sure I will stay with me, but I rather wish it didn't. My one real gripe is the character called Frank - she is female and I could not for a long time remember that! Her given name is Frances and at one point she even corrects the police when they call her Frances. I did not see the significance of her name - maybe it got lost in editing.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The atmosphere conveyed in the book is so bleak - the writing so evocative and for that it deserves the 5 stars.

You Were Made For This is out 28 June 2018. My thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for a copy of this book to review.