“She turns to face the future in a world that’s falling apart.

For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs.

Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead….”

I was lucky enough to win this book from a giveaway on Gothic Angel Book Reviews.  I had heard so much about this book so I was looking forward to finally checking it out for myself.

During the first few pages I felt like there was a lot of information thrown at me all at once, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because it was things I needed to know, I just felt a little overwhelmed by it.

The author had created a future world where the city was divided up into factions and each faction had its own set of duties/rules depending on the character traits of each faction: Abnegation – selflessness, Dauntless – bravery, Erudite – intelligence, Candor – honesty, and Amity - peacefulness.  The aptitude test determined which faction each sixteen year old would be most suitable for and I found this fascinating especially when I realised that they didn’t have to choose the faction that their responses favoured!  It was around this time that the word Divergent came up but it didn’t give much information about it so throughout the book I tried to find out what it was all about.

After Tris chose her faction and began the initiation process I got the feeling she felt a bit out of her depth, that all changed though as her character developed in strength and knowledge.  She actually seemed to grow before my eyes, fighting her way through her new life and facing her fears head-on. She was a character that I took to my heart so when she showed an interest in Four I was keen to see where it would lead her.  There was an electric energy between the two of them even when he wasn’t being nice to her, this made their time together very exciting for me as the reader – it was definitely one of my favourite parts and something I look forward to more of in the next book Insurgent.  So many dramatic things happened towards the end that when I closed the book I had to take a breath and let my mind replay everything – it certainly hints at the next book being even more exciting and full of action!

I couldn’t get enough of this book and didn’t want it to end, it was so visual for me – almost like watching a movie which is handy seeing as the movie is already planned for 2014!

Divergent was a dark, exciting and action-packed read, with a dash of romance thrown in to make it a perfect all-rounder.

Divergent can be purchased from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

To find out more about Veronica Roth click on the following links:

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“Sophie May has a secret.

One that she’s successfully kept for years.  It’s meant that she’s had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.

But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make it to the top.  And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous – but ruthless – world.

Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention.  Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy?  And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?”

Firstly I’d like to thank the publishers for sending me this book to read and give an honest review.  I had already read some good reviews for it so I was very excited to get started.

The story began with an introduction to Sophie’s life, it also hinted at something unpleasant from her past and I was just dying to find out what the big secret was.  When I finally did discover what Sophie had been hiding I was surprised because I thought it would be something worse!

I enjoyed reading about the teashop where Sophie worked, from the descriptions I found it so easy to picture the shop in my mind particularly her boss Molly and the elderly customers with their blunt words .  Speaking of Molly, I absolutely adored her character – she was definitely one of my favourites and I could see why Sophie loved her so much.

When news came that a movie was going to be filmed in the village I was not expecting Sophie’s calm reaction, the rest of the village was super excited but she seemed to be very unenthusiastic about the idea.  However, by the time the film crew arrived Sophie was just as excited as the rest of the village, even though her celebrity crush Jude Law wouldn’t be involved.

Sophie and Billy’s first meeting was cute and really made me smile, I was hooked on their blossoming romance especially after an incredibly romantic first date.  As their relationship progressed and Billy’s career skyrocketed Sophie found herself being thrust into the spotlight and her life changed dramatically, she still managed to hold on to her down-to-earth ways though and this was something I liked.  There were so many of Sophie’s characteristics that I could relate to (mainly her shyness) and I felt rather protective of her so when Billy began acting selfishly I wanted to jump into the book and tell him off on Sophie’s behalf!

There were lots of great moments throughout the book, some of my favourites included the opening performance at the theatre (Sophie got a bit of a shock on that occasion), a confrontation with a rude customer at the coffee shop and a night at the BAFTAs.

The author has a very natural writing style so I found myself flicking through the pages with ease, it ended up being so much more than I had expected (and my expectations were quite high anyway), it was far more emotional than I thought it would be especially towards the end when I had tears pouring down my face!

This was a fantastic read that made me smile, frown and cry – a truly touching story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Actress and freelance journalist, Giovanna is married to Tom Fletcher from McFly.  She grew up in Essex with her Italian dad Mario, mum Kim, big sister Giorgina and little brother Mario, and spent most of her childhood talking to herself (it seems no one wanted to listen) or reading books.  Giovanna is a firm believer in the power of magpies and positive energy.  She has over 118k followers on Twitter and her blog has over 8000 hits daily.

To find out more about Giovanna Fletcher click on the following links:

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Billy and Me is published by Penguin Books and can be purchased from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

“‘Time is like a river. It always flows in one direction.’  What if everything you thought was certain was not?

1812: On a lonely battlefield in Spain, Lord Nicholas Falcott, Marquess of Blackdown, is about to die …. But, the next moment, he inexplicably jumps forward in time, nearly two hundred years – very much alive. Taken under the wing of a mysterious organisation, The Guild, he receives everything he could ever need under the following conditions:

He can’t go back.  He can’t go home.  He must tell no one.

Accepting his fate, Nicholas begins a life of luxury as a twenty-first century New York socialite, living happily thus for the next ten years. But, when an exquisite wax sealed envelope brings a summons from the Alderwoman of The Guild, Nicholas is forced to confront his nineteenth century past.

Back in 1815, Julia Percy’s world has fallen apart. Her enigmatic grandfather, the Earl of Darchester, has died and left her with a closely guarded secret, one she is only now discovering – the manipulation of time. In terrible danger from unknown enemies, Julia flees her home to the sanctuary of neighbouring Falcott House. In this strange place Julia and a recently returned Nicholas are drawn to each other and together they realise how little Julia knew about her beloved grandfather and begin to understand his ominous last words…

‘Pretend.’”

Firstly I’d like to thank the publishers for sending me an uncorrected proof copy of this book to read and give an honest review.  I was thoroughly intrigued by the blurb and couldn’t wait to start reading it!

Right from the start I was captivated by the wonderful writing and intriguing storyline – initially I was in 1815 with Julia and her grandfather, I was given just enough information to let me know what was going on but also to tease me with a mystery or two.  Then I met Nick who was in 2013 at that time, I knew he was a time traveller from reading the blurb so I was keen to hear about his life and I looked forward to finding out the exact details of how he got there.  Nick repeatedly mentioned ‘the girl with the dark eyes’ and I couldn’t wait to find out who she was and how he knew her – yet another exciting mystery to solve.

Reading about the moment Nick first jumped through time was fantastic and one of my favourite parts of the book, I particularly enjoyed Nick’s reaction to modern-day items and I imagined finding myself in the same situation  - how bizarre every day items would seem to someone from that time.  By that point I was fully immersed in the wonderfully imaginative world of time travel, secrets and mystery that I couldn’t put the book down if I had wanted to!

The Guild was a bit of a puzzle for me to begin with, it claimed to provide everything a time traveller would need and nothing was required in return, but I had an uncomfortable feeling about it and didn’t totally trust the people in charge.  Nick attended their future school where he learned how to be a modern man, it was here that I discovered a few of the schools students felt the same way I did about the Guild and this was another factor that held my interest so completely.

After Julia’s grandfather had passed away I learned a little bit more about the art of playing with time and this was something else I had been looking forward to.  Obviously as the story progressed I learned more of the finer details of ‘jumping’ and by the end I felt rather knowledgeable on the subject .  Julia’s cousin Eamon had taken her grandfathers title but he was a nasty man who was after the secret of time for himself and unfortunately for Julia he made his horrible presence felt on more than one occasion.

When Nick made his return to 1815 it was everything I had hoped it would be – mixing his knowledge of the future with the reality of that time was not easy for him and I found myself waiting for him to slip up and reveal something he shouldn’t!  Romance was also made more difficult because Nick had grown accustomed to ladies of the 21st century who weren’t quite as innocent as the ladies from his own time.

What followed was incredibly exciting, it was full of time travelling rules and politics that sometimes became quite dangerous.  The story was imaginative but the author had written it in such a way that it somehow felt believable and maybe even a little bit possible (my imagination certainly ran away with me while I was reading it).  The ending seemed to indicate that there is more to come and if that is the case then I am so excited about what lies ahead!

This was an addictive, mysterious and exciting read that captured my imagination entirely.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bee was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, in a parsonage made from three stuck-together old cottages.  She then attended Oberlin College, worked for a year in features at Elle Magazine, and went on to Cornell for a doctoral degree in English literature.  After several years spent chasing research material and true love around the UK, she settled down to teach American literature at Bryn Mawr College.  Bee lives with her partner in Philadelphia.  The River of No Return is her first novel.

To find out more about Bee Ridgway click on the following links:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

The River of No Return is published by Penguin/Michael Joseph and released on 23 May 2013, you can purchase it from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

“Alex had everything when he was with Madison. But the darkness within him wouldn’t go away. 

After two years apart, he returns to Pelican Bluffs and to the girl he never wanted to leave. Madison wants to give their love another chance, but Alex can’t fight fate. 

He is what he is. 

Ruined. Crazy like his mother. And Madison deserves so much more. When his secrets spill out into their small town, Alex has a choice to make. Hide away in the darkness forever, or let love in.”

Firstly I’d like to thank the author for sending me this eBook to read and give an honest review.  This is the sequel to Castles on the Sand which I read and reviewed here.  I really enjoyed the previous book and have often thought about the story and its characters so when I found out about this sequel I was very keen to read it!

The first few pages confused me a little but I soon realised what was happening and after Alex gave a quick recap of events from the first book I was completely on track.  The story picked up a couple of years after the previous book when Alex was on his mission, he was clearly experiencing some difficulties in his life but Madison (who was on her own mission) seemed to be doing okay.

This time round the story was told from Alex’s point of view, this was something I very much enjoyed but I would have liked to read a few parts from Madison’s perspective because I often wondered what she was thinking.  I learned more about Alex’s mum and her schizophrenia which worryingly was beginning to affect Alex too.  Mental health issues were such a big part of this story, it touched me deeply to read about the struggles facing the characters who were living with these illnesses and their families.  It was very well written – I could almost feel Alex’s emotions (especially during the worst of his terrifying episodes) jumping off the page at me.

I admired Alex’s determination to stay away from Madison but I wasn’t sure if it would last – the whole ‘will they, won’t they’ thing kept me on my toes throughout!  Madison’s friend Kailie surprised me, she hadn’t been a particularly likeable character in the first book but this time I definitely warmed to her.

There was something compelling about this book and I was repeatedly drawn back to it, every time I got a spare moment I found myself picking up my Kindle to read a bit more!

This was a touching and enjoyable story of love against all odds, another great read from E.M. Tippetts.

Love In Darkness will be released on 21 May 2013 and can be purchsed from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Kobo.

To find out more about E.M. Tippetts click on the following links:

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“Freya Johnson is back and life is good!

Having sold her photography studio in the UK, she’s now living the American dream, engaged to Hollywood film star, Nicholas Kaden. Finally her past is behind her and the only way is up – as long as she’s regularly fed takeaway food!

But with a wedding to plan and a whole heap of charity work to organise, she could do without the reappearance of her childhood sweetheart, Jonny Sanders. He’s rich, he’s better looking than she remembers and he reminds her of all those times she’d rather forget.

When a flippant comment made during a hospital visit ends up as headline news, suddenly everything is in turmoil and Freya’s life is in danger!

Could her past be coming back to haunt her?  Who is sending her hate mail?  And where the hell are her ‘Wild Wednesday’ pants?”

I got this eBook when it was available as a free download from Amazon (current price £1.53).  It is the sequel to Excess All Areas (my review here) which I really enjoyed so I was excited to find out what Freya and Nicholas were up to now!

I was absorbed by the story straight away, it felt like only yesterday that I had read the previous book because I found it so easy to remember it all.  The blast from Freya’s past came early on in the book, this was a fantastic twist in my opinion and kept me glued to the pages as I waited to see what would happen.  The information that Jonny gave Freya sent her reeling and from that moment she seemed to fall apart a little bit.  But there was lots more to come…

Freya’s feisty nature shone through once again and her witty banter entertained me throughout, but when her life became complicated she didn’t handle it in a good way.  I found myself feeling frustrated by her actions particularly where hospitals were concerned.  About halfway through the book things took a sinister turn, this was a great part of the story because it added some heart-pounding mystery and intrigue.

Later on came a real ‘oh my goodness’ moment which completely shocked me, I certainly hadn’t seen that one coming!  It was something that I knew would affect Freya in a big way and I felt concerned for her.  What followed was a scary time and although I had guessed who was responsible for what had been going on I enjoyed it nonetheless.

As I have come to expect from this author the writing was addictive and pulled me in so that I was unable to stop reading, this made it another one day read to add to the list.

Public Property was a great read that entertained me from start to finish, I would definitely recommend it!

To find out more about Mandy Baggot click on the following links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

“Mara Dyer knows she isn’t crazy.  She knows she can kill with her mind, and that her boyfriend, Noah, can heal with his.  Mara also knows that somehow, her ex, Jude, is not a hallucination.  He is alive.

Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she’s not crazy isn’t easy.  The only person who actually believes her is Noah.  But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him.  She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast!  

Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out how Jude survived the asylum collapse, and how he knows so much about her strange ability… before anyone else ends up dead.”

I bought this book after reading and enjoying The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (review here), I couldn’t wait to find out what was in store for Mara this time!

The main events of the previous book had been cleverly woven into the beginning of this book so I had a very clear picture of what was going on.  Mara was now in a psychiatric unit, this was a frustrating time for her as she struggled to convince everyone that she was telling the truth about her shocking discovery.  Mara’s fear was palpable and I found my heart beating faster many times throughout the story.

Mara’s relationship with Noah was just as exciting this time round, they knew a lot more about each other and Mara really leaned on him for support.  Noah was wonderful, I loved how passionately he tried to protect Mara and although he seemed to be keeping things to himself I couldn’t help but fall a little bit in love with him.  Particularly after reading things like this:

“If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them.  If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

It was good to see Jamie again, he was a very real character with a bit of a crazy streak and I enjoyed his friendship with Mara – he seemed to be someone who she could truly trust.

When I was taken on a flashback to the past, I felt a little confused and couldn’t figure out why it had happened or what it meant.  The significance of the flashbacks soon became clear though and this made it easier for me to connect the two times together.

There were plenty of weird, eerie and intense occurrences throughout the book, I wanted to know why all of this was happening to Mara because even though I had come up with a couple of theories I just wasn’t sure of the reason.  Apparently I was right not to be sure because my theories didn’t even come close to the truth – this is a difficult series to predict!

Towards the end the intensity grew and the eeriness soared, my heart was pounding furiously as events unfolded before me.  I was utterly stunned by the ending so I can’t wait for the next instalment to find out if what I think happened, really did happen!

This was another amazing read that captivated my mind with its unique blend of scary, weird and romantic antics.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer can be purchased from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

To find out more about Michelle Hodkin click the following links:

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“Eilidh Lawson’s life is in crisis.  Years of failed fertility treatments, a cheating husband and an oppressive family have pushed her to the limits.  At the end of her tether, she runs away to the one place she thinks she can find solace – her childhood home in the highlands.

There, as she struggles to mend her broken life, she reconnects with her childhood friend Jamie McAnena, who is trying to raise his daughter Maisie alone.  After Maisie’s mother left to pursue a career in London and Jamie’s own mother, Elizabeth, passed away, he has resigned himself to being a family of two.

But sometimes there is more to a story than meets the eye.  Despite their reluctance, curious circumstances keep bringing Jamie and Eilidh together.  For even when it seems all is lost, help can come from the most extraordinary places.”

Firstly I’d like to thank Black & White Publishing for sending me this book to read and give an honest review.  This isn’t the first book I’ve read by this author, I have also read and enjoyed the first two books in The Sarah Midnight Trilogy (reviews here).  I had heard many MANY good things about Watch Over Me so I was very much looking forward to reading it.

Wow, what a powerful prologue!  It was thought-provoking, slightly haunting and completely drew me in so that I just had to find out exactly what happened on that spring night in the woods.

As soon as I read about Eilidh’s struggles to fall pregnant, and the effects it had on her life, I felt incredibly sorry for her.  I knew then that she would be a character that I’d take to my heart and as she ran from the pain I felt glad, I thought it was the right thing for her to do.

When I read Jamie’s story I felt a mixture of emotions, I was shocked that a mother could up and leave her child so easily, sad for what Jamie and Maisie had lost but also happy that they were able to stay together.  He seemed to be a very likeable character and I quickly warmed to him even though there were times that I felt frustrated by his actions, particularly when he didn’t say what he really wanted to.

Then came the twist that made this book so special for me – Elizabeth’s story after her death!  She was Jamie’s late mother and reading about how it broke her heart to leave her family behind brought tears to my eyes.  She raised some great points about motherhood and talked about death in a peaceful kind of way.  The moment she ‘felt’ Eilidh’s distress gave me chills and I enjoyed Elizabeth’s memories of Jamie and Eilidh’s childhood as friends.

As Eilidh and Jamie both tried to rebuild their lives and battle their inner demons, Elizabeth was working behind the scenes to make sure they would find each other again – this was one of my favourite parts of the book and brought a smile to my face every time she intervened.

It wasn’t just the main characters who captured my interest, the author created some fantastic supporting characters who were just as interesting and I really enjoyed following their ups and downs too!  Elizabeth had to be one of my favourite characters though, her words were inspiring and made so much sense, the author had written it so beautifully that I felt like I was actually reading the thoughts of someone who had passed away.

There were a couple of heart-stopping twists and turns towards the end, one in particular that gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes once again.  I found this story so poignant and was completely unable to put the book down – I finished it in just one day.

This was a breathtaking read, it was beautifully written with such an emotional atmosphere, I have a feeling this book will stay in my mind for a long time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniela Sacerdoti was born and raised in Italy but now lives in Glasgow, Scotland.  Daniela holds a degree in Classics from the University of Turin and has taught Italian, Latin and Greek – her great-uncle was the renowned Italian writer Carlo Levi.

Watch Over Me, Daniela’s debut, was released as an eBook in 2011 and has now sold over 150,000 copies.  She is also the author of the paranormal YA trilogy, The Sarah Midnight Trilogy (Dreams/Book 1 and Tide/Book 2) and is working on her second adult novel, also set in Glen Avich.

To find out more about Daniela Sacerdoti click on the following links:

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Watch Over Me was published by Black & White on 18 April 2013 and can be purchased from The Book  Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

“London, 1920.  Arlette works in Liberty by day, and by night is caught up in a glamorous whirl of parties, clubs, cocktails and jazz.  But when tragedy strikes she flees the city, never to return.

Over half a century later, in the grungy mid-’90s, her granddaughter Betty arrives in London.

She can’t wait to begin her new life.  But before she can do so, she must find the mysterious woman named in her grandmother’s will.

What she doesn’t know is that her search will uncover the heartbreaking secret that changed her grandmother’s life, and might also change hers…”

Firstly I’d like to thank the publishers for sending me this book to read and give an honest review.  I love a good mystery so the blurb really intrigued me and even at that point I was trying to come up with ideas as to what the big secret was!

The first thing I learned from the book was that Arlette (the elderly Arlette, her personal story hadn’t started yet) had broken her hip and so her son, his girlfriend and her young daughter Elizabeth were going to stay at her house to look after her.  It was clear that Elizabeth wasn’t too happy about it until a touching moment between her and Arlette changed all that for the better.  It was at this moment that Arlette called Elizabeth ‘Betty’ and it stuck – she was Betty throughout the rest of the book.  Their bond grew as Betty grew up, especially after Arlette suffered a stroke and became bed bound.  I was amazed that a young woman would stay in the house just to take care of an elderly lady, this was such an admirable thing to do and I thought very highly of Betty after that.

Betty clearly loved Arlette and I really enjoyed their interactions so I felt sad when I learned that Arlette had passed away.  It was at the reading of her Last Will & Testament that the mystery began – an unknown beneficiary from London confused Arlette’s family and Betty decided that she would head there in an attempt to find this person.  Betty had always dreamed of going to Soho, London after visiting with her mother when she was young so it was an exciting opportunity for her and one that she grasped with both hands.  I had a couple of theories as to who the mystery beneficiary was but ended up being completely wrong!

As Betty settled into her new life (not without some difficulties I might add) she began to uncover secrets that shocked her and showed a completely different side to her step-grandmother.  Alongside Betty’s story was Arlette’s story from the 1920s, I really enjoyed this part because she was such a fascinating character!  There were times when history seemed to be repeating itself and this concerned me and made me smile all at the same time, I had become really quite fond of Betty and wanted her to make the right choices – in life and in love.  Both stories had me hooked and I enjoyed fitting together all the pieces of the mystery, I couldn’t rest until I had completed the puzzle and by this point I felt rather emotional.

The writing was captivating, creating an intriguing atmosphere and touching on subjects that pulled at my heartstrings.

This was a wonderful read filled with romance, secrets and mystery – expect to feel a range of emotions!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Jewell was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.  She is the bestselling author of Ralph’s Party, Thirtynothing, One-Hit Wonder, Vince & Joy, A Friend of the Family, 31 Dream Street, The Truth About Melody Browne, After the Party and The Making of Us, all of which have been Sunday Times bestsellers.  One of the UK’s most talented contemporary novelists, she has sold over 1 million books in the UK and is published in over twenty countries.

To find out more about Lisa Jewell click on the following links:

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Before I Met You was published by Arrow in paperback on 9 May 2013, it can be purchased from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.

“In this entertaining sequel to Working it Out Ruby never expected to be starting over… …but after a shocking bereavement, she begins to question whether or not she will ever be happy again.

A chance encounter with handsome author Michael Bell throws her fragile heart into turmoil. Plus, a dark family secret and completely unexpected love interest add to her confusion. Encouraged to face her demons, she volunteers at the Bow Wow Club – (Boyfriends of Widows, Wives of Widowers).

You will laugh and cry along with a myriad of eccentric characters as Ruby searches for her inner peace. But will she let love win? Or allow her past to continue to haunt her?”

Firstly I’d like to thank the author for sending me this eBook to read and give an honest review.  I was so excited to hear that Working It Out (review here) was getting a sequel, Ruby was a great character and I was looking forward to catching up with her.

From reading the blurb I knew something bad had happened in Ruby’s life and I had a pretty good idea what it was going to be.  The prologue confirmed my suspicions and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was crying.  Boy was I right – I just couldn’t stop the tears from falling as I read the devastating scene.

Getting past the tears, I was pleased to see that Fi was her usual whirlwind self as she tried to coax Ruby into having some kind of life.  There was a real sense of fun whenever she was around and she was definitely a good (depending how you looked at it) influence on Ruby.  I was thrilled that Tony Choi made a couple of appearances, he was such a memorable character from the previous book and he made me laugh just as much as he did before!

An unfortunate incident led Ruby to the wannabe author Michael Bell and when I got to read from his perspective I was excited by what I read.  Things moved surprisingly quickly after that and it all seemed too good to be true, to be honest I started to think that Michael was a bit stalker-like.  His book painted a confusing picture to begin with and I was desperate to find out the truth behind it.  I laughed when he couldn’t decide whether certain words would be considered too rude for the book he was writing as I could picture writers in the real world facing the same dilemma .  Obviously this means that the story contains some swearing and scenes of a sexual nature so be warned.

Ruby’s first visit to the Bow Wow Club was great, the crazy group of characters were so entertaining particularly Simon Dye who ended up being one of my favourite characters!  Later on there was an exciting twist in the form of Harry Bowman-Green and this brought out a whole new side to the storyline that I hadn’t expected.

The author wrote about grief, and all the other feelings that go along with it, in a sensitive and honest way – there were times when I could almost feel Ruby’s emotions rolling off the page at me.  Although this book could probably be read as a standalone read I would recommend reading Working It Out first, just so that you have a full picture of the characters and their history.

This was a fab one-day read that took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, I would definitely recommend it!

The Bow Wow Club is due to be released on 14 May 2013 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

To find out more about Nicola May click on the following links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

“Johanna Walker knows what she wants. And that’s a strong, steady, financially secure man who will treat her well and look after her and her little brother, Cole – something her parents have never done. 

But when she meets the gorgeous Cameron MacCabe, a new bartender at work, Jo can’t deny the instant and undeniable attraction she feels. Cam doesn’t fit into her strict specifications of her perfect partner at all – but for once she is tempted to let her heart rule her head.

And as their intense connection grows, Jo has to stop hiding the truth about herself and her family. Is Cam prepared to accept Jo for who she really is? And is Jo willing to let someone into her life for keeps?”

Firstly I’d like to thank the publishers for sending me this book to read and give an honest review.  This is the sequel to On Dublin Street which I haven’t actually read (but have heard some very good things about) and I was a little concerned that I might struggle to keep up without having some previous knowledge of the characters.  After reading this I can safely say that not reading the first book didn’t affect my enjoyment in the slightest BUT it did make me super intrigued about Joss and Braden’s history so I will definitely be reading it at some point (I have added it to my wish list ).

With a quick introduction to Jo’s life I found that I was caught up in the story in no time at all, I immediately liked Jo and sympathised with her situation.  When she had an intense experience at an art gallery I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead!

I have to confess that I didn’t love Cam to begin with so I felt nervous for Jo when I knew she’d have to work with him.  He was really quite nasty to her so her reaction to him was very confusing.  Not only did she have to contend with Cam at work she also had to contend with her new neighbour, this was a fantastic twist that reeled me into the story even more.

Jo’s home life raised a mixture of emotions within me – the relationship she had with her little brother, Cole, was heartwarming and something I particularly enjoyed reading about.  The other side of her life involved her alcoholic mum and this brought out some negative emotions in me.

Jo’s self-esteem was very low so when her love life heated up I enjoyed seeing her change and relax, becoming more confident in herself.  Speaking of her love life, I will warn you that there are some very hot sexual scenes in this book but they felt appropriate and didn’t overwhelm the storyline in any way. Her relationship was great to read but a shocking arrival threatened to throw a spanner in the works and I found myself feeling annoyed on Jo’s behalf.

Something that I really loved about this book was that it wasn’t just about the erotic scenes (although like I said, they were pretty hot) because it also covered serious issues which, in my opinion, gave it depth.

Events towards the end had me on the edge of my seat and I just couldn’t stop reading, the writing was fantastic and completely pulled me in – I was on a mission to find out ‘what happens next’!

This was an addictive read that I would highly recommend, it was an erotic story that had oodles of depth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Young is a 26-year-old Scottish book addict who graduated from the University of Edinburgh.  She currently lives in Stirling, Scotland.  Samantha’s previous novel, On Dublin Street, is also published by Penguin and its publication turned her into quite the cover girl appearing on the front pages of The Herald Magazine and The Edinburgh Evening News.

To find out more about the author click on the following links:

Author Blog | On Dublin Street Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Down London Road is published by Penguin, the eBook is available to buy now from Amazon, the paperback will be released on 9 May 2013 and can be purchased from The Book Depository, Amazon or from most good book retailers.