Book Review: The Dirty Dozen by Lynda La Plante

Synopsis

The fifth book in the Tennison series following Jane Tennison in the early years of her policing career.

The fifth book in the Sunday Times bestselling Jane Tennison series.

April 1980 and Jane is the first female detective to be posted to the Met’s renowned Flying Squad, commonly known as the ‘Sweeney’. Based at Rigg Approach in East London, they investigate armed robberies on banks, cash in transit and other business premises.

Jane thinks her transfer is on merit and is surprised to discover she is actually part of a short term internal experiment, intended to have a calming influence on a team that likes to dub themselves as the ‘Dirty Dozen’.

The men on the squad don’t think a woman is up to the dangers they face when dealing with some of London’s most ruthless armed criminals, who think the only ‘good cop’ is a dead cop. Determined to prove she’s as good as the men, Jane discovers from a reliable witness that a gang is going to carry out a massive robbery involving millions of pounds.

But she doesn’t know who they are, or where and when they will strike . . .

My Review:

It’s been a while since I picked up a Lynda La Plante book and I was not disappointed. It was a bit odd in the beginning reading a book that’s taking place in the 80’s and it’s 2019 hahaha. I forgot that little bit of information while reading. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I couldn’t put it down.

Jane Tennison is a strong determined woman that does her very best to prove she belongs on the team of the Flying Squad. She’s belittled, setup for failure and just an experiment. With this knowledge, she shows them boys that a woman can work on the Flying Squad and does everything to give her best to the job, outshining whenever she’s uncovered more information.

Lynda La Plante really is the Queen of crime thrillers. I enjoyed this book, I was rooting for Jane throughout and wanted her to prove those boys club wrong and she did.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Postscript by Cecelia Ahern

Synopsis

It’s been seven years since Holly Kennedy’s husband died – six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life.

She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry’s letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind.

Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones, Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever…

We don’t often remember how we meet, we mostly remember how we part. – Cecelia Ahern – Postscript

My Review:

WOW!!!!! Grab your tissues!!!! This book will get to the core of you.

Holly, is faced with the letters her late husband Gerry left behind after his death seven years ago. She finally opens up about coping with his death, through his letters. Word spreads and she’s asked to assist a group of people who were inspired by Gerry’s letters and would like to do the same.

Holly is taken back to her time with Gerry, she relives certain moments, certain memories, it’s as if Gerry has returned to her.

Forced to make decisions on her own, Holly, helps this group called the P.S I Love You Club. She assists them with their wishes of leaving something behind for their loved ones.

Beautifully written, Cecelia Ahern made me think about life and how short it is. It took me back to my own experience with the death of loved ones and made me open to the changes made in my life. It’s a truly inspiring story and definitely one of my favourites for 2019.

Humans possess insatiable longings for wealth, status, and power, but are hungry, most of all, for love.

Rating: 5 stars

Book Review: No Vacancy by Stephanie Rose

Synopsis:

Can a summer fling become the love of a lifetime?

Perpetual good girl Caterina Longo is dependable to a fault. At 33, she’s never called in sick. Never had a one-night stand. Never taken a chance in her entire life. When she walks in on a cheating ex and sees everything wrong with her life, she takes off on a solo vacation, busting out of her comfort zone and into the arms of a guy she never saw coming.

Joe Hunter has no room for distractions. Making his restaurant a success and proving his worth to his family—and himself—is his sole focus. At least it is until a beautiful stranger, in search of fried food and a shoulder, wanders in one night.
Is two weeks of unexpected, life-altering passion all they’re meant to share? What happens when vacation ends and real life takes over?

My Review:

I loved this whirlwind romance. It’s not often you find a romance about a couple in their thirties, not looking for love, but finding it anyway.

Caterina Longo flees her apartment days earlier than planned to go on vacation. Distracted and upset, she takes a three hour drive to her destination, giving her three days to herself, or so she thought. Once at her destination, needing food and WiFi, she heads over to the restaurant across the street where she meets Joe Hunter.

Joe and Caterina don’t waste anytime jumping into each others lives, but what they keep putting aside is that in reality, after a week, Caterina would have to leave to get back to her life in the city – three hours away. Are their feelings for each other strong enough for a long distance relationship?

Stephanie Rose, wrote a beautiful little romance about two grown ups that knows exactly what they’re doing, but still acting a little like love sick teenagers. The book was a pleasure to read, I wanted to know how the story ends. These two characters took on this challenge of a long distance relationship head on and made it work. Obviously as in reality things are not all moonshine and roses and they hit a few bumps in the road, but they perservere. The book was easy and quick to read and kept me wanting to know if Joe & Cat will make this work.

My Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Forged by Sacrifice by LJ Evans

Synopsis

What would you sacrifice for love?

Leaving his Navy career and his assignment at the Department of Defense behind, Mac Whittaker is ready to join his family on Capitol Hill. He’s just missing one thing―a woman he loves at his side.

He wants the American fairy tale.

Georgie Astrella has put her life’s goals on hold for way too long. She’s finally putting away her cutting shears and curling iron to bury herself in justice and the law.

She certainly isn’t looking for love.

Fate has other ideas… throwing them together until neither of them can walk away from the attraction that thunders across their souls… from the truth of how their hills and valleys fit perfectly together.

But her family’s past would make his future an impossibility.

Will Mac give everything up for her? And more importantly, will Georgie let him?

Review:

LJ Evans had me craving this book for months with her teasers and snippets. She did not disappoint.

We are first introduced to Mac & Georgie in Book 1 of the Anchor Series: Guarded Dreams. Both characters are best friends with Eli & Ava, so naturally their paths cross.

The story of Macauley Whittaker & Georgia Astrella is one of sacrifice, hope, family, friendship and the main ingredient; LOVE.

Mac & Georgie go through a series of “What Ifs” in their relationship. Both having concerns about being together. They come from two different worlds that can damage their future if they pursue this.

Both have a fierce love for their family, friends and country. Most of all, they both will sacrifice for the people they love, including their love for each other. Love always prevail.

LJ is a story-teller! This story had you going through emotions. I felt like I was on a roller-coaster, siding with Mac then with Georgie, then screaming and crying with the characters. I have read all of Ms Evans books and I am never disappointed.

This is a highly recommended inspirational romance with a 5/5 rating!

FORGED BY SACRIFICE IS DUE FOR RELEASE ON 22 OCTOBER 2019

Book Review: Balk by Lacy Hart

Synopsis

Wes Martin gave up a career in the major leagues to be with Kristin, the small-town librarian, and the two have been living a happy life in Chandler ever since. That is until spring rolls around, and the familiar itch of spring training makes Wes wonder if he gave up on baseball too soon.

Should Wes stay in Chandler?
Could he make it in the big leagues again?
Would their newly forged relationship survive?

The complications quickly build for both Wes and Kristin – careers, family, friends, relationships, secrets – Is their desire for each other strong enough to overcome it all?

My Review

The story of Wes & Kristin continues in Balk.

Life after retirement seems to get the better of Wes & not openly communicating with Kristin, things start taking a strain on their relationship. They seem to be living life passed each other, with Wes withdrawing somehow.

Then opportunity strikes again and Wes jumps at it, leaving Kristin unsure of how things stand between them.

In book two, we see the ups and downs of relationships. The consequences of decisions made when not thought through properly. The emotions of people living in the same house, barely speaking to each other like they used too. Book two gives you real life experiences of what it takes to maintain a relationship and how important it is to keep communication open and honest in life.

My Rating: 31/2 out of 5

My Life As A Country Album – by LJ Evans

About two months ago, I was introduced to an author to review her latest book Guarded Dreams and I loved that book. This author is LJ Evans. I recently picked up her debut novel – My Life as a Country Album and I can honestly say that I am officially a fan!

Synopsis:

“All I know is that I love you. I’ve loved you my whole life. This is where I belong. This is home.”

Tomboy Cam belongs to football hero, Jake. After all, he announced she was on the way long before Cam’s mama even knew she was going to make an appearance. Whether they’re out at the lake listening to crickets, or in the tree house counting stars, they’re always together. All Cam needs is him at her side. Even when he drives her crazy flirting with the girls that chase after him like he’s some boy band star, she never wants to be without him. It’s like she isn’t quite herself until somehow their day brings them next to each other again.

But what happens when they grow up, and it isn’t just the three years that separates them that’s slowly tearing at the fabric of them?

What happens when it’s the illness he hides that’s threatening it all?

What happens when he kisses her and leaves?

How will Cam came ever find where she truly belongs?

Inspired by Taylor Swift songs, comes the AWARD-WINNING novel about aching love and loss and learning to live again

My Review:

WOW! At first when I read the first chapter I was like what? What’s happening, why is the end at the beginning? Then I read further and I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN.

I loved how the book was written, how Cam told Jake their story. The story was beautifully written and tug at all my heartstrings. LJ is a master at telling stories.

It’s a story of two kids that grow up together and basically live in their own little world. She falls first of course, because let’s face it, boys are idiots LOL. And then he notices her and they struggle to act on their feelings, because life gets in the way and after all there is a 3 year gap between the two of them.

Then tragedy strikes and they work through it together until the end! How does Cam manage to move on? She can’t! She’s forced too! And after a while, she finds happiness in life again.

This book had me laughing, frustrated and balling my eyes out! Definitely a story worth recommending.

Rating: 5/5

#BookReview: The Road Leads Back by Marci Bolden

Synopsis

Kara Martinson and Harry Canton weren’t exactly high school sweethearts, but they did share one night neither will ever forget. Twenty-seven years later, Harry surprises Kara at an art gallery opening and discovers he left her with more than just memories when he went away to college. Desperate to connect with the family he never knew existed, Harry convinces his son to move to Stonehill—and pleads with Kara to come, too.

Kara hasn’t stepped foot in their hometown since the day she was sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Now Harry’s back in her life and as they put together the pieces of his parents’ betrayal, old heartaches start to feel anew. She wants to be near her family, but returning to Iowa means facing some things…and some people…she isn’t quite ready to.

Can Harry convince her to forgive those who betrayed her so they can embrace the future they were robbed of so long ago? Or will the pain of the past be too much for Kara to overcome?

My Review:

Wow! This book spoke to the very core of me. I empathized with Kara on a very personal level, I cried, I laughed. I think it’s because I too am a single mom. Kara sacrificed her life to give her son the best she could and also to make sure that they always had fun. Not knowing the real reason behind Harry (baby daddy) not being in their lives, Kara is not very welcoming when finally after 27 years Harry makes an appearance in their lives. Harry wants a life with his family which includes Kara, but this means that they will all have to move to Iowa where Kara and Harry both grew up. Kara isn’t very happy about this decision, but will do anything for Philip her son and his happiness and agrees to go back to the place that caused her so much pain.

Back in Iowa, Harry and Kara start working on their relationship and give into their feelings for one another and work on being a family.

And as stories usually goes… they lived happily ever after. This is definitely a recommendation from my side.

Rating: 5/5

#BookReview: The Woman I was Before by Kerry Fisher

So JUNE started off with a page-turner!

**The perfect picture hides the darkest lies.**

Synopsis:

A new home can be a happy ending. Or a fresh start. Or a hiding place…

Kate Jones is running away. She has left her old life behind, changing both her own name and her daughter’s. No-one must ever connect Kate with the mistake that destroyed her life.

Starting afresh on Parkview Road – a brand new street full of newly built houses – Kate looks at the other women on the street with envy. They seem to have it all: Gisela with her busy life, full house and successful children, Sally with her exciting spontaneous marriage, her glamorous holidays, her high-flying career. The pictures that Kate’s new friends post online confirm their seemingly perfect existence, whilst Kate hides from the world at all costs.

Until one day, everything changes. Kate is called to the scene of a devastating accident, which is about to test everything the women thought they knew about each other, and themselves.

My Review:

This is a story about Kate, Gisela & Sally. Three strangers who move into the same road on the same day. As they get comfortable with their new lives, twists unravel and we are left wondering what is going on. They post their lives on Facebook, portraying how perfect life is, but behind closed doors, life gets the better of them.

This book was a page turner for me. I loved the characters of Gisela and Kate. Sally I wasn’t really into, she seemed way too pretentious and judgemental for me. All three woman has secrets, until, one day, it all comes spilling out and they learn to face whatever lies ahead with the help of each other.

A story of friendship, struggles and second chances.

If you’re a fan of Big Little Lies, you’ll enjoy this book.

Rating: 5/5

Review: The Accident by Gail Schimmel

Introducing The Accident:

When Julia was a child, her parents were involved in an accident that would cast a long shadow over Julia’s life. Now that Julia is an adult, facing her own challenges, it might be time for her and her mother to unravel the demons that they have lived with since the accident. The Accident is told from four points of view: Julia; her mother, Catherine; her lover, Daniel, and Daniel’s wife, Claire.

Review:

This book! It’s the first time I read a novel by Gail Schimmel and I enjoyed it. The characters I wanted slap most times, but I had my favourite one who made me laugh and feel the way she was feeling. The ending was a little predictable – just a little – but all in all it a lovely book and I would recommend it to a book club because you need to have someone to talk to about these characters

Rating:

5/5