Here's my February reads:
Everything Love is by Claire King - I loved this sensitively written book which beautifully draws us into Baptiste's live - from the moment he is born in tragic circumstances although he's deeply loved by his adoptive parents, to later as an adult and life on the houseboat with his beloved piano.
He helps people find their happiness although he shuns love himself until he meets new client, Amandine who he finds is constantly in his thoughts. He finds out he is in the early stages of dementia and decides to live a little while he can. I highly recommend this book.
Unbroken - My Story of Survival, from 7/7 bombings to Paralympics Success by Martine Wright - WOW Martine is some woman! She suffered horrifically in the 7/7 bombings and was determined to re-build her life and live it as fully as possible with the help of her family and friends. It's well worth a read.
Anna - One Love, Two Stories by Amanda Prowse* - this is one of my fav books this year! Oh, i just loved Anna's story (and can't wait to read Theo's) What a wonderful story. Anna is such a strong and loveable character. I got totally engrossed in the story and Anna's life almost instantly and couldn't put the book down. She's had a hard life with more than her fair share of tragedies but she's picked herself up and has made the best of it.
When she meets the love of her life, Theo she feels her life is complete. He's truly perfect...but is he? I loved the supporting characters - Shania, who Anna meets in the care home, her half brother and sister, Micky and Lisa and even frosty posh Stella. It's an absolute triumph of a book and I loved it.
Clean Break by Tammy Cohen - this short read has an almighty huge twist I didn't see coming! Katie and Jack's marriage is over but Jack won't accept it, making them attend marriage counselling even though she's seeing someone else. He believes Katie does want to be with him and will stop at nothing to make sure that happens.. A great short read.
Bring Me Back by B A Paris* - I just loved this fast paced read with that twist I didn't see coming. WOW.
Finn and Layla are coming back from a skiing holiday when he needs to stop for the toilet. When he returns to the car Layla has vanished. Twelve years on he's in a relationship with her sister Ellen, getting ready to marry her and is happy.
Suddenly, Russian dolls are being left outside the house which have a connection to Ellen and Layla's childhood. Finn starts to receive emails supposedly from Layla. It's a fast paced and twisty read which had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Oh and that twist which I didn't see coming. Just loved it.
Anything for Her by G J Minett* - I absolutely loved this twisty-read which also had a twist I didn't see coming!
Billy Orr returns to spend time with his sister at the request of his brother-in-law and quite by accident (he believes) he bumps into his ex-girlfriend who he's still holding a flame for. In fact, he'd do anything for her... Aimi tells him she wants to leave her abusive husband and asks Billy to help.
What follows is an absolute roller-coaster of a read where you think you've worked out what's happening before you are hit with a new angle to the story. I absolutely loved it.
The Trick to Time by Kit De Waal* - Mona has just turned 60 and lives on her own near the sea. She is a doll maker and sells lovingly handcrafted dolls and toys which are made by a local carpenter. She worries about being on her own as she gets older. She has tragedies which happened to her in the past which she finds hard to let go of. She has a sideline where she helps grieving women who have lost babies come to terms with their loss.
She had a real love of her life, William who lost his way forcing Mona to start again. She meets a man locally called Karl whom she likes but can't take it any further as her heart still belongs to William. There is a twist I didn't for one moment see coming which took my breath away. Would recommend however.
The Missing Ones - DI Lottie Parker Book One by Patricia Gibney - this is a brilliant debut (I can't wait to read books #2 and #3). Detective Lottie Parker along with DS Mark Boyd and the team are looking for a killer. Three people are dead which seem to be connected although the team are struggling to find the connection.
St Angela's was a home for wayward children run by the local Priest and nuns. Some of the children went missing never to be seen again. Lottie keeps a folder in her desk which has the photo of a young boy who stayed for a while at the home and we do find out the connection to her later in the story. The team however have to dig deep to find the truth. A fast paced and disturbing tale which I couldn't put down. I also loved the character of DI Lottie Parker.
What have you been reading this month?
*copies from the publisher via Netgalley
