amothersmusings1's reviews
1977 reviews

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

4.0

Authors beware, be afraid, be very afraid! “You Are Fatally Invited” - RSVP at your peril….. 

 

I don’t know what’s more frightening, thriller writers creating fear for their readers or recreating that same fear but between other thriller writers! 

 

This book was very addictive. I literally couldn’t tear my eyes away from the pages it was so engrossing. You do need to pay attention though, a bit like playing a game of Cluedo. You’ll actually find yourself mentally trying to connect the sins with the characters and then their relationships to each other. Therefore it’s best to read this book in a few a sittings as possible to avoid any confusion - the quick chapter changes, narrated from various characters can catch you out. 

 

The hidden secret of Alastor’s identity, the disturbing narrative from Mila, the ‘locked-in’ island trope - with no outside communication or wifi, no access to the mainland - and the arrogance of self obsessed authors, all combine to create a twisty ambience of suspicion, tension and murderous mayhem. 

 

You can’t trust any of the characters, each have their own long buried secrets and some even have revenge on the agenda…..but as the deaths start mounting up just like in an Agatha Christie thriller, who is the anonymous face behind the writers retreat and what could their end game be? 

 

#YouAreFatallyInvited - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

Love in the Cupboard by Mari Jane Law, Mari Jane Law

5.0

“Love in the Cupboard” is book 2 in the “Love and Mishaps” quirky romantic comedy series. 

 

We met Perdita and the other characters; Luke, Gavin, Faith, Hope, Saul and Violet in “Love and Pollination” and I instantly fell in love with them all. In this book “Love in the Cupboard”, the story is predominately based on Faith and her sister Hope and also, who I was most interested in following up on, Luke and Gavin, and the situation that was developing within their relationship. 

 

Just when I thought the author couldn’t create any more eclectic characters, she smashes it again with Father Sheridan and his new life in the ‘real world’ after suddenly leaving his parish as a catholic priest. Faith is just like Perdita, unlucky in love and searching for her true soulmate and genuine nice guy to share her life with. Will Perdita find love in her work’s cupboard or will she find him closer to home? Once again the scenes throughout this story are so comedic, they often have you giggling out loud. And don’t even get me started on the librarian - she honestly must have nightmares about who might ask for ‘personal’ assistance and the ensuing shop scenes are just hilarious! 

 

I’m really obsessed with these books and the characters. They really do bring joy to you as you read about their comical situations. The author Mari Jane Law knows naturally how to make her readers laugh and it goes without saying, this is a must-read series! 

 

“Quirky storylines, memorable characters, farcical situations, witty dialogue and plenty of sweet romance!” 

 

#LoveInTheCupboard - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

Love & Pollination by Mari Jane Law

5.0

“Love & Pollination” is Book 1 of the ‘Love & Mishaps’ quirky romantic comedy standalone series. 

 

I truly adored Perdita - what a character! The more I learned about her, the more I found her fascinating. Kind, self-depreciatingly funny and genuine, she really feels like a life long friend now.  Her use of alternative terminology and botany analogies were just brilliant - pollination, germination and seedling had me in literally in hoots of laughter. 

 

These ‘will they/won’t they’ tropes are soooo frustrating! I’ve never been more on edge - not in a tense way but in excited anticipation reading how the characters fight their true feelings. 

 

In particular I enjoyed Gavin and Luke’s characters and their caring relationship towards Perdita.  I can see there’s lots more to come from their own relationship in the future and I have fingers crossed it goes the way I’m hoping. 

 

Saul was a debonair character and I was wishing with all my heart that the story would conclude to a highly satisfying conclusion. You’ll need to read the book yourself to see whether this was actually achieved or not! 

 

This superb, wacky love story is unique, delightfully adorable with comedic love scenes that will have you cheekily giggling and I don’t think I’ve genuinely enjoyed reading a romantic comedy as much as this one. I have high hopes for the next in the “Love and Mishaps” series and I intend reading “Love in the Cupboard” straight away to get my next rom-com fix! 

 

#LoveAndPollination - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Blood Spots by Lin Le Versha

5.0

I’ve always enjoyed Lin Le Versha’s “Steph Grant” series set in Suffolk and having read every one so far, it was a given that I’d be reading her latest one “Blood Spots”.  As book five in the series, ex Detective Sergeant Steph Grant and her partner DCI Philip Hale are already well established within their working/personal relationship but this book can still be read perfectly well as a stand-alone. 

 

The author has a special talent for creating characters that are likeable, entwining them in a really intriguing murder mystery. “Blood Spots” takes Steph temporarily away from the sixth form college she works at. As she becomes embroiled in a murder case, which occurs whilst she is volunteering as a stage manager for an amateur dramatics show, she discovers that many of the cast and crew have links to a similar production in 1989, and a case Hale is currently working on. 

 

I liked how this read like a traditional murder mystery, with each eclectic character having their own backstory and obligatory red herrings appearing along the way.  We also find Hale in an unusually sour and distracted mood throughout this story, giving cause for concern, and it gave a completely different vibe to the normal working partnership of Steph and Hale. 

 

Lin Le Versha’s writing is positively addictive and it’s always a pleasure to read her books. I’m pleased how this one concluded and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for the ‘Stephale’ partnership (and of course not forgetting Derek the dog!) 

 

#BloodSpots - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

5.0

“The Launch Date” is a fabulously entertaining, work-place based romance by debut author Annabelle Slator. 

 

This book really made me smile. A traditional ‘will they, won’t they’ storyline - handsome rich guy, career driven gorgeous girl, the typical romantic trope of enemies to possible lovers (which is not a spoiler, just a hint at the story) - that sucks you in from the start and with characters that really make you feel happy for. 

 

The story was up to date and modern, based on dating app creations and their maintenance. Although I’ve never used them myself, I was intrigued by just how much goes into these apps behind the scenes, analysing the demographic usage to ensure future clients etc. It was appropriate that the seedy side of the apps was covered too and how one of the main characters dealt with it in their private life. 

 

There are a couple of steamy scenes, very tastefully staged and appropriately timed within the story.  This book would be perfect to read on Valentine’s Day, just as I’m also sure it will be an all year round bestseller too. The author has used her own experience at working for the dating app “Bumble’ to create a realistic work based world, with its deadlines, important presentations and power hungry colleagues. All combined with a truly enjoyable romance that keeps you entertained from start to finish. Highly recommended to readers of this genre. 

 

#TheLaunchDate - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Frail Little Embers by Fija Callaghan

4.0

“Frail Little Embers” by Fija Callaghan is a beautifully printed and illustrated collection of twenty one folklore and fairytale stories, designed to give hope in times of darkness and present challenging topics in a way that shows our potential to overcome them. 

 

The opening story “Spinning Sugar” gave a very strong introduction to what the reader can expect. I really enjoyed this haunting tale and followed it perfectly as each scene clearly appeared in my mind. 

 

I think the author could be on to something with the bibliotherapist tale, ‘The Story Doctor’ - books dispensed as medicine to cure ills of the mind is a fabulous idea and on further research,  I’m amazed I’ve not heard of this actual thing sooner.  This along with “After the Fall” were my favourites and gave me pause for thought.  “After the Fall” is a story based on something I think many affected families would wish to do too. 

 

“Songbird” was just adorable, with nods to the previous stories included in the book and was incredibly heart warming. 

 

I generally don’t get along with poetry but I enjoyed ‘Apple Seeds’ which read perfectly like a story, yet in a beautiful poem form. 

 

Short story collections can often be hit or miss and there were one or two here that I didn’t ‘get’ but, out of twenty one individual and unique shorts, this was a minuscule number of duds for me and of course this is just me.  Everyone’s thought processes are different and you may well see those same stories in a different context. 

 

The author, by her own admission has used her wealth of encounters throughout her life to create a variety of unique short stories, based on the eclectic people she’s met.  Judging by some of these tales, she’s obviously had some weird and wonderful experiences! 

 

If you enjoyed “The Haunting Scent of Poppies” by Victoria Williamson ( as I did) and others like it, you’ll know the sort of thing to expect from this story collection and if fantasy/magic realism interests you, then “Frail Little Embers” will keep you thoroughly entertained. 

 

#FrailLittleEmbers - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Baby Teeth by Celia Silvani

5.0

What a powerfully emotive story “Baby Teeth” was.  I certainly wasn’t expecting the range of emotions I went through reading this book, from frustration and dislike to sympathy and genuine amazement. 

 

I didn’t like any of the characters at all, though that is exactly what the author intends for the reader (I hope) even James, who is perhaps the only one with some limited sense acted erratically.  I was little disappointed that his side storyline, involving his work and his very numerous ‘work drinks’, didn’t have more of a bearing on the story but generally all the characters seemed very self-focused and unlikeable. 

 

Saying that, the empathy I felt towards Claire and especially Flora outdid any of the frustrations I felt towards the two women.  At times I wanted to shout and scream at them - to open their eyes to what was going on around them. 

 

As a mother myself, I have to admit to not knowing anything about ‘free-birthing’ apart from being aware of potential risks but I was totally astounded by the powerful nature of the women in the social media groups and their ability to sway others with their strong beliefs and opinions. The internet can be such a dangerous place when used incorrectly and the addiction Claire had with her mobile phone and the groups she had joined, was borderline psychotic and again very frustrating. 

 

Irritations and social media dependency aside, this book was in itself addictive, engrossing and eye opening and it felt at times, like I was rubber necking at an accident, so disturbing were some of the scenes. 

 

I must point out the trigger warnings: free-birthing, infertility/IVF issues, loss and its associated grief, mental health and medical phobias. This book may not be for everyone, especially those currently pregnant or planning on a family but I ‘enjoyed’ it and would happily read more by Celia Silvani again. 

 

#BabyTeeth - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

A Secret in the Family: The brilliant new historical drama from the author of the Sunday times bestselling Shipyard Girls series by Nancy Revell

5.0

Nancy Revell is the bestselling author of “The Shipyard Girls” series set in Sunderland.  “A Secret in the Family” is Nancy’s latest novel, a standalone that features Angie and her shipyard friends as she lives her life in the Durham countryside, now the war has ended. Predominantly focusing on her mother Ida Boulter, this story is one of joy, sorrow, guilt and of course love. The author herself admits she is fascinated by the mother-daughter relationship and this book explores this relationship between Ida and her daughters (and sons) to its full extent. Hoping love will conquer all, the characters each have their own personal issues and I continued throughout, to will each one to overcome them. 

 

Being born and bred in Sunderland myself, it’s always a pleasure to read books set in my home town, especially set in the pre/post war era that I didn’t experience. To recognise street names, pubs and places is a constant joy for me but setting aside the location, this book was still a delightful read that I immensely enjoyed. 

 

Although this book does loosely follow on from the shipyard girls series, there’s no need at all to have read them first but I would imagine if you’re a Nancy Revell fan, you will already have. First time readers will find this book heartfelt and inspiring, about a past that cannot stay buried and will keep them entertained from start to finish. 

 

#ASecretInTheFamily - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

The Family Before Us by Tracy Martin-Summers

5.0

If you’re looking for a top notch domestic psychological thriller to read, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one than Tracy Martin-Summers’ - “The Family Before Us”.  I was engrossed from the very first page right up until the last - the addictive storyline, the intended misleading narrative, the deceptions and the frustrations that Tara faced at every questioning corner, kept me on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put the book down at all! 

 

The story bases its theme on family dynamics, secrecy, deception and the many layers of personalities a person can display and how these emotions can damage lives and relationships and the challenges they present. I loved Tara’s determination to get to the truth about her best friend and who her family really are. Her husband’s support was always there for her and I was pleased she had that one constant in her life. 

 

I would happily read this book again, it was that good and I know I’d be just as riveted the second time around. I’m intrigued now to read the author’s other books and I am more than confident to recommend this book to fellow readers of this genre. 

 

#TheFamilyBeforeUs - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard

5.0

Set in New York 1930, “Grace of the Empire State” is written by Gemma Tizzard and as a debut novel, this book is phenomenal. As someone who has an intense fear of heights, this book did nothing to calm my nerves, though it did prove just how well the author described the death defying scenes, many floors up during the building of the Empire Sate Building. 

 

Since it was all men who worked tirelessly on the real life construction, the author wanted to write a story that incorporated a woman in an imaginative and creative way. She was certainly successful in doing that, creating a young show dancer who was not only a dedicated family member, prepared to do anything to save her poorly younger sister but a fearlessly brave and likeable character. 

 

I hadn’t heard of ‘dance marathons’ before and was astonished at what people resorted to during the Great Depression, in the hope to earn money. The rent increases, health bills and lack of jobs meant people would do any work, even if it cost them their lives. 

 

This book is an unbelievable debut novel and I even had to double check that this was the case, so well written and portrayed was the story. Every scene on the building site portrayed the danger of working at such heights, often with no safety net and with a constant fear of falling to one’s death.  The attention to detail, from how the wind affected their work, the intricate jobs that needed to be done, to even how the rivets were searing hot before being used, vividly created what must have been horrendously scary work. 

 

Each worker was courageous, tough and looked out for each other and there wasn’t a character throughout that I didn’t endear to. Grace in particular was resilient, showed empathy and genuinely worthy the title of the book. 

 

A ‘riveting’, engrossing and highly engaging novel, written with professionalism, flair and passion. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction. 

 

#GraceOfTheEmpireState - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️