Saturday 31 March 2018

#Book #Review Our House by Louise Candlish #NetGalley

Our House by Louise Candlish
Publication Date: 5th April 2018
Simon & Schuster UK

Book Description:

On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue.
Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it.
For better, for worse.
When Fi arrives home to find a removals van outside her house, she is completely blind-sided. Trinity Avenue has been her family’s home for years. Where are all her belongings? How could this have happened? Desperately calling her ex-husband, Bram, who owns the house with her, Fi discovers he has disappeared.
For richer, for poorer.
The more Fi uncovers, the more she realises their lives have been turned upside by a nightmare of their own making. A devastating crime has been committed, but who exactly is the guilty party? What has Bram hidden from her – and what has she hidden from him?
Till death us do part.

My thoughts:

I love the way the sense of foreboding is instant when you start chapter one with the date being Friday 13th.  Then your stomach starts to churn as Fi Lawson drives towards her house after a short break away and realises that the removal van parked outside is delivering all the worldly goods belonging to another family into her home. And she hasn't sold it.
I could actually imagine the scenario and how I would feel in her shoes.  Especially once she has confronted the people moving in - then realises that not only all of her possessions are missing, but so are her children.  Total panic sets in!
This book is the subject of nightmares and the manner in which Louise Candlish has presented it to us is pure brilliance.  We have Fi's side of the story being related by the transcripts of podcasts (very 21st century!) and Bram, her ex husband, telling his side via word documents which he intends sending to his ex wife at a later date to try and explain why and how their safe, if slightly quirky, home life has been completely blown apart.
I don't think I have ever read a book which has built such an air of tension and dread as I worked my way through it, with each revelation making me scream "noooo!" at the pages as each character made decisions which could make things worse rather than better - if only they trusted and communicated with each other more then the whole scenario could have been so different.
Top class plotting and writing from Louise Candlish has put this book in my top scorers' list for 2018
.

About the Author:

Louise Candlish studied English at University College London and worked as an editor and copywriter before writing fiction. She is the bestselling author of eleven novels, including THE SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF THE FRASERS (Penguin, 2015), which has been optioned for TV by Hartswood Films.

OUR HOUSE is published in the UK in April 2018 by Simon & Schuster and in the US in August 2018 by Berkley.

Though her stories are about people with complicated lives and dark dilemmas, Louise tries to get through the day without too much drama of her own. She lives in South London with her husband and daughter. Follow her day to day on Twitter at @louise_candlish or get updates at www.louisecandlish.com

Thursday 29 March 2018

#Book #Review: You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac

You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac
Publication date 19th April 2018
Simon & Schuster
416 pages
Book Description:

You and me, we have history.
We have a child together.
We have kept secrets from each other for far too long.
This summer, in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne, it is time for everything to change.

You, Me, Everything is a heartfelt and unforgettable story about the lengths we are prepared to go to for those we love. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry, this is novel you will never forget. Rights have sold in over twenty-two countries internationally and a film is in progress with Lionsgate.


My thoughts:

My first observation of this book is that the author has a really easy writing style which made the story flow beautifully despite some tricky subject material.

The book is told from various time frames, from when Jess and Adam are very young and in a relationship with no responsibilities to various stages along the way right up to the present day.  The format works really well as we understand everyone's point of view along the way.

Adam is shocked to find out Jess is pregnant, and being quite immature in his outlook doesn't want to be a father. Jess however goes ahead with the pregnancy and in true Adam style he fails to turn up to the hospital until just after the birth.  Jess decides that he has let her down once too often and ends the relationship, going back to her parents with baby William.

The story moves along to when William is 10 years old and Adam has moved abroad, buying a run down holiday complex and rebuilding the business.  Jess decides that Adam deserves the chance to show that he has changed  his ways and it's time for him to prove this so takes William on an extended holiday in order to build up a bond with his dad.

The story moves back and forth in time but this is in no way distracting and we build up a really good idea of how life has treated each of them over the years with some devastating news for Jess and her family which they all have to come to terms with.

I strongly recommend that you read this book for yourself to experience how Jess and Adam rebuild their relationship in order that William can have quality time with both of his parents - despite Adam showing signs of still being the immature young man he always was and Jess having serious doubts about whether it was a good idea after all.

I loved this book with its laugh out loud moments and tear jerking emotional chapters balancing each other out beautifully.  I have to say I was extremely glad that I read the last part of this book in the privacy of my own home so that my ugly crying wasn't witnessed by anyone in public!

I thought I would struggle to read a better book than 'Three Things About Elsie' by Joanna Cannon this year but this is a serious contender and I really don't think I can decide which of these tops my chart of great books for 2018.  All I can say is go get yourself a copy, arm yourself with a box of Kleenex to mop up your tears and settle in for an excellent emotional read.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a competition - and I am delighted to provide a review of my thoughts in return.

About the Author:

Catherine Isaac was born in 1974 in Liverpool, England. She gained a degree in history at the University of Liverpool, then studied journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University.
She began her career as a trainee reporter at the Liverpool Echo and went on to became Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post. She wrote her first novel, Bridesmaids, while on maternity leave and under the pseudonym Jane Costello. She since wrote nine books, all Sunday Times best-sellers in the UK.
'You Me Everything' is her first novel writing as Catherine Isaac. Translation rights have been sold to 20 countries and a movie has been optioned by Lionsgate.
She lives in Liverpool with her husband Mark and three sons.

Sunday 25 March 2018

#Review The Fear by CL Taylor

The Fear by CL Taylor
400 pages
Avon Books
Book Description:

‘Grabs you by the metaphorical throat right from the start and doesn’t let up until the end.’ Heat
Lou Smith is used to being headline news as, aged seventeen, she ran away with her 37-year-old teacher, Mike, during a short-lived affair.

Now 32, Lou’s life is in tatters – and she resolves to return home to confront Mike for the damage he has caused. But she soon finds that Mike is unchanged, and is now grooming a young 15-year-old girl called Chloe.

Determined to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself, Lou decides to take matters into her own hands. But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as she tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that Lou could once again become his prey…

The million copy Sunday Times bestseller returns with a taut, compelling psychological thriller that will have you glued to the edge of your seat


My thoughts:

The subject matter for this novel is potentially very sensitive, but Cally Taylor has written this novel in a manner which makes it quite inoffensive.  There are three women of different ages featuring strongly in this story which relates how each woman gets involved with the same man. Lou's experience with him has left her emotionally scarred and afraid to commit to anyone for long, Wendy was married to him until things went horribly wrong and Chloe is currently smitten with him. 
Parts of this book could have been uncomfortable to read were it not for the author's ability to put you in the character's shoes so well that you can understand exactly how Mike has captured their attention. The three women really don't click to begin with but as the story progresses and they find that they need to work together to get justice for each other. None of them fully trusts each other until Mike's actions prove to them that he has lied, cheated and deceived all of them in order to get what he wants.
The criminal side of the story cleverly takes a back seat whilst still making its presence felt in the background with the whole novel being more about the effects men such as Mike have on their victims and how these women will never be the same again, even many years on.
Without giving away any of the plot, I was extremely impressed by the ultimate twist in the tale - one that I really wasn't expecting and left me retrieving my jaw from the floor and my eyebrows from the ceiling. Absolutely brilliant.
Cally Taylor continues to go from strength to strength with each novel she writes, which can only bode well for the future. What date is the next one due out....?

About the author:

C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and young son. She is a three times Sunday Times bestseller and her books have hit the number one spots on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play. Cally has a degree in Psychology, with particular interest in abnormal and criminal Psychology. She also loves knitting, Dr Who, Sherlock, Great British Bake Off and Margaret Atwood and blames Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected for her love of a dark tale.

Her dark psychological thriller THE ACCIDENT was published in the UK by Avon HarperCollins in April 2014 and as BEFORE I WAKE in the US in June 2014 by Sourcebooks.

Her second psychological thriller THE LIE was published in the UK in April 2015. It became a Sunday Times bestseller and hit the #1 slots on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Google Play and Sainsbury ebooks. THE LIE was published in the U.S. by Sourcebooks.

CL's third psychological thriller THE MISSING was published in April 2016 and was another Sunday Times and ebook bestseller. THE MISSING was published in the U.S. by William Morrow in 2017.

THE ESCAPE, her fourth psychological thriller, went to number 2 in the Sunday Times paperback chart in 2017 and won the Dead Good Books Most Unreliable Narrator award.

Her fifth psychological thriller THE FEAR will be published on 22nd March 2018.

THE TREATMENT, her Young Adult thriller, was the fastest selling UK YA debut of 2017.

Her international bestselling romantic comedies (written as Cally Taylor), HEAVEN CAN WAIT and HOME FOR CHRISTMAS were both published by Orion in the UK. They have been translated into 14 different languages, and her debut was voted ‘Debut Novel of the Year’ by chicklitreviews.com and chicklitclub.com.

In 2014 HOME FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a feature film by JumpStart Productions. For more information visit www.homeforchristmasfilm.com

www.twitter.com/callytaylor
www.instagram.com/CLTaylorAuthor
www.facebook.com/CallyTaylorAuthor
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Friday 23 March 2018

#Review The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth #Netgalley

Publication date 22nd March 2018
Hodder & Stoughton
352 pages
Book Description:

A gripping domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Kerry Fisher.
The small suburb of Pleasant Court lives up to its name. It's the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street.
Isabelle Heatherington doesn't fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.
But Ange, Fran and Essie have their own secrets to hide. Like the reason behind Ange's compulsion to control every aspect of her life. Or why Fran won't let her sweet, gentle husband near her new baby. Or why, three years ago, Essie took her daughter to the park - and returned home without her.
As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread - and they'll soon find out that when you look at something too closely, you see things you never wanted to see.
My thoughts:
Having not been a great fan of Big Little Lies (I know, I am in a minority but it all felt a bit "Tupperware" for me, sorry) I did wonder whether I had made a huge error requesting The Family Next Door from NetGalley to review.  But hey, I had put myself up to review it so the least I could do is give it a try. WOW! Am I glad I chose it! This book pulled me in from the very first pages - I felt as though I was another resident of Pleasant Court, Melbourne watching though my window at the every day lives of my neighbours.  Written in a very easy to read style the author has given us a great snapshot of the residents: Essie & Ben and their two daughters Mia & Polly; Fran & Nigel and their daughters Ava & Rosie; Ange & Lucas and their boys Ollie & Will and finally new arrival to the area Isabelle. 
Post natal depression is a big subject area in this story and is described cleverly but without judgment or stigma.  Also, how depression can affect anyone, of any age or gender is represented.  The long term effects of a traumatic event are also shown in the overall story but again I felt this was handled very well, in an understanding manner.  
I love the way the story played out with each chapter feeling very much like an episode of a soap opera which made the book very well paced overall.  The feelings of the various characters are expertly described from each of the mums to newcomer Isabelle who is a bit of a mystery and gets the residents talking as to where she's come from and why she's there on her own.
There are a plethora of secrets from each of the addresses in Pleasant Court - and maybe the biggest secrets come from the least likely individuals.  I shall say no more as I really don't want to spoil the plotline for anyone as it is a great novel for the pages to gradually release their gems of information.
My summary:  Move in to Pleasant Court for a while and indulge in the secrets hidden behind the closed doors. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!




About the Author:

Sally Hepworth is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives. The Secrets of Midwives has been labelled “enchanting” by The Herald Sun, “smart and engaging” by Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Times bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin have praised Sally’s debut novel as “women’s fiction at its finest” and “totally absorbing”. The Secrets of Midwives was also the highest selling debut Australian fiction of the year in 2015.

Sally is also the author of The Things We Keep, published in January 2016. The Things We Keep was a Library Journal Pick in the U.S. for January 2016, and an Indie Next Pick in the U.S. for February 2016. NYT bestselling author of The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion praised The Things We Keep calling it ‘A compelling read that touches on important themes, not least the different forms that love may take.”

Both novels were published worldwide in English and have been translated into several languages.
Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two children.
Website



Thursday 22 March 2018

#Blog Tour The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton #LoveYouToDeath

Publication date 22nd March 2018
Wildfire
368 pages
Book Description:

A frightening depiction of unbridled obsession, where love and pure hatred grapple on a knife edge.

Juliette loves Nate. The fact that he’s broken up with her doesn’t change that.
She has a plan to win him back, starting with training as a flight attendant for the airline where he works as a pilot, so she can keep a closer eye on him. Twisting the self-help books she’s read, she takes the mantra ‘in charge of you own destiny’ to new extremes.
She is the perfect girlfriend. And she'll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants - the perfect boyfriend, the perfect life, the perfect ending.

An utterly compelling voice that hooks you into Juliette’s world, a unique insight into the face behind the air hostess uniform from an author with first hand experience, and ultimately a completely page-turning experience make THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND one to watch in 2018.

My thoughts:

We know right from the start that Juliette has had a rather tragic start to her life. What we don't realise is quite how deep that event runs and how it affects her outlook on life. 

Sadly Juliette and Nate have separated, far from a mutual decision.  She still loves Nate and is convinced that she is the perfect girlfriend for him.  She will go to any lengths to prove this. And I mean ANY lengths.  At first I felt quite sorry for Juliette and thought that maybe once she got into her new role at the airline she would become distracted, maybe fall for someone new and she would get her happy ever after just not with the person she thought. Then I began to become rather uncomfortable with some of the exploits she was prepared to undertake to find out how to keep track of Nate's whereabouts, the invasion of his privacy really was on another level. Also, how she used so-called friends and her manipulation of circumstances I found totally unacceptable.
The decisions she ultimately makes - and manages to convince herself to be logical and not completely delusional (as everyone else would interpret them)- to try and win Nate back really will shock you to the core. Blackmail, manipulation, and long held resentments all feature strongly in this brilliant tale of the ultimate "bunny boiler" - even more shocking than the legendary film of this genre Fatal Attraction in my opinion.

I found it extremely impressive that this is Karen Hamilton's debut novel and am excited to hear that she has further work in the pipeline. Definitely a talent to watch out for. 

My thanks to Becky Hunter at Headline for the advance copy of this book and Anne Cater of Random Things Through My Letterbox for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for this brilliant debut novel.



About the Author:

Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy, and developed a love of travel through moving around so much. This led her to a career as a flight attendant, and it was in the air that she thought of the idea for her debut thirller THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND, which aims to explore not only obsession, but also the true faces behind those who go to work in uniform.
Karen is a recent graduate of the Faber Academy, and has now put down roots in Hampshire to raise her young family with her husband.


Wednesday 21 March 2018

#Review Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery by Cathy Bramley #NetGalley

RandomHouse UK/Transworld Digital
Publication Date 22nd March 2018
336 pages

Book Description:

Thirty-two-year-old Hetty Greengrass is the star around which the rest of her family orbits. Marriage, motherhood and helping Dan run Sunnybank Farm have certainlykept her hands full for the last twelve years. But when her daughter Poppy has to choose her inspiration for a school project and picks her aunt, not her mum, Hetty is left full of self-doubt.

Hetty’s always been generous with her time and until now, her biggest talent – baking deliciously moreish shortcrust pastry pies – has been limited to charity work and the village fete. But taking part in a competition run by Cumbria’s Finest to find the very best produce from the region might be just the thing to make her daughter proud . . . and reclaim something for herself.

Except that life isn’t as simple as producing the perfect pie. Changing the status quo isn’t easy – and with cracks appearing in her marriage and shocking secrets coming to light, Hetty must decide where her priorities really lie . . .

My thoughts:

I have to start by saying that I love Cathy Bramley's work. It is always a pleasure to read, with a feel good element without being too sickly sweet.
Hetty and Dan Greengrass are sheep farmers at Sunnybank Farm, having met at school and been a dedicated couple ever since.  Hetty once had ambitions of university and a glowing career but Fate decided that this isn't the path for her when Dan's father died and he inherited the farm. Hetty stepped up and has fitted in to whatever role she is needed in, whether that is farmer's wife, stay at home mum or general support in the local community.  Hetty is quite content with her lot until daughter Poppy announces at her school parents evening that the most inspirational woman in her life is her Aunt Naomi, Dan's sister who owns and runs the farmshop next door to them.  This gets Hetty thinking that she wants to achieve something for herself and be more of a positive role model for Poppy, she just doesn't know how to make it happen.
Meanwhile Naomi's open day event for the farm shop looms large and Hetty is roped in to make pies as Naomi's "regular supplier" has let her down.  This heralds the start of a new venture for Hetty as the pies are a huge success and Naomi asks if she would like to make a regular order for the farm shop. A whole world of new possibilities opens up for Hetty when her pies win a prize in Cumbria's finest competition but husband Dan isn't very supportive - she's always been on hand to help him whenever he needs help and he wonders whether the everyday running of the farm will suffer if Hetty isn't around as much.
We follow Hetty's adventure setting up her own small business with all the little triumphs and stumbling blocks along the way. We see her confidence grow and begin to see the start of the person she could have been had she followed a different path in life. 
Anna was one of Hetty and Dan's group of school friends and has been in their lives as long as they can remember. Single mum to Bart, she's the school nurse at the local comprehensive having settled down in the village after returning from a gap year with Bart as a surprise souvenir of her travels. She's Hetty's best friend and when Bart shows an interest in working on the farm she admits she is struggling with the concept of him growing up and being independent. Suddenly though, events take a serious turn while Hetty is away from the farm and the situation makes her question everything she is doing.  What is she prepared to sacrifice in order for her business to strive? Then, just as she thinks she has made her decision another bombshell is dropped with much more far reaching, personal consequences.
This is a great novel, an easy read but one which makes you assess what you would do in Hetty's shoes. Would you give up your dreams in order to be with your soul mate? What if then they wouldn't support you when you needed them? And just how much can you forgive someone you love?

I love most of the characters in this tale of country living and the setting sounds absolutely idyllic. Cumbria is a beautiful part of England and Cathy Bramley's description of Hetty sitting with her morning cuppa surveying the countryside around Sunnydale Farm sounds perfect to me.

A great tale with an interesting little twist which I really hadn't expected. 5 stars from me.

About the author:

Cathy Bramley is the author of the best-selling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love and The Plumberry School of Comfort Food. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.

Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!

Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley

Saturday 10 March 2018

#Book #Review Love Among The Treetops by Catherine Ferguson #NetGalley

Love Among the Treetops by Catherine Ferguson
publication date: Kindle 8th March 2018, paperback 17th May 2018
Avon Books UK
400 pages
Book Description:


Can love flourish amongst the tree tops?
When pastry chef Twilight Wilson was a young girl, she would hide from school bullies up in the treehouse at the bottom of her garden in her family home in Sussex. It was her special place, and even as an adult she still loves it.
So when her family tell her they can’t afford to live there any more, Twilight is devastated. Not only will they lose their home – but the treehouse too!
She comes up with a plan to save the family home – she’ll start up a cafe in the treehouse! It’s a brilliant idea, and excitement builds as she starts planning the menus, with the help of Theo – a rather attractive man from the gym. But when former school bully Lucy finds out the plan, she starts plotting – and opens her own rival cafe in the village!
Can Twilight save her family home? Will her friendship with Theo ever be anything more? And who will win the cafe wars?
Catherine Ferguson is back in this hilarious, heartwarming read perfect for summer.

My thoughts:

I haven't read much women's fiction for a while with the plethora of mystery & psychological thrillers which are on the shelves at the moment so this made a refreshing change. 
I love Twilight Wilson's character; her sense of responsibility to step in and try and save the family home despite the fact it meant abandoning her dream of being a pastry chef is so admirable. Then to find out that the decision to return to her childhood home where school bullies had made her life miserable for so long made me respect her even more.  She tackles every situation with determination, and with her archenemy seeming to have not left schoolyard issues behind my heart sank for her - especially when events at the school reunion fashion parade prove her fears to be correct: Lucy Slater was still out to get her.
With friends and family suggesting that she is just being paranoid, Twilight throws herself headlong into setting up the café venture which could be the lifeline to rescue Honey Cottage from the jaws of repossession.  As has always happened since primary school, Lucy Slater is on hand to scupper her at every turn but this time Fate is finally on hand to prove that the truth will out eventually.  Lucy's vindictive actions and true nature finally make headlines, and Twilight feels the weight of over 20 years of humiliation lift from her shoulders as people see what Lucy is capable of at last.
The author has written some excellent, credible characters and scenarios, and I was delighted to see the change in Twilight's personality as she confronted the ghosts of her past one by one. There are some great laugh out loud moments which made the story so much more satisfying as the karma train came to town to settle some outstanding scores.
What I thought was going to be a very light, fluffy tale actually went much deeper to tackle some very tough issues but in a light hearted manner. 
A huge success of a novel for me which I will be happy to recommend to all my friends.

About the Author:

Catherine Ferguson burst onto the writing scene at the age of nine, anonymously penning a weekly magazine for her five-year-old brother (mysteriously titled the 'Willy' comic) and fooling him completely by posting it through the letterbox every Thursday.

Catherine's continuing love of writing saw her study English at Dundee University and spend her twenties writing for various teenage magazines, including Jackie and Blue Jeans, and meeting pop stars. Then she got serious and worked as a sub-editor at the Dundee Courier before moving to Surrey and setting up an organic veg box delivery business.

Her first novel, HUMBUGS AND HEARTSTRINGS, is very loosely based on Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL and was the launch title for Avon's brand new imprint, Maze. She's currently working on her seventh book, LOVE AMONG THE TREETOPS, out March 2018.
Catherine lives with her family in Northumberland.

Thursday 8 March 2018

#Book #Review Sunshine at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson #NetGalley

Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café 
by Debbie Johnson
#4 in the Comfort Food Café Series
HarperCollinsUK
400 pages
Book Description:

Perched on a windswept cliff on the stunning Dorset coast at what feels like the edge of the world, the café and its warm-hearted community are a haven for lost souls who happen to wander by with a heavy heart and a story to tell.

Serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes, there’s nothing a cup of tea and a delicious treat won’t fix. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.

So make yourself at home, catch up on the gossip with old friends, meet new ones and fall in love at the Comfort Food Café.


My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore this series by Debbie Johnson, and not only because it is set in my favourite county in England but because the characters are so diverse but all loveable in their own way.
If you haven't read the previous books in the series don't worry - the author cleverly gives the reader a concise background when the buyer of Briarwood, the run-down former children's home, moves into the village of Budbury and our main character Willow writes him a reference book so he can recognise the local residents without having to go through the painful ordeal of making introductions.
Willow is struggling to cope with mum Lynnie's Alzheimers despite the amazing support of Budbury's close knit community.  Circumstances and a little help from the village's newest resident lead to Willow finally contacting her estranged siblings in an attempt to bring the family back together to try and ease daily life not just for herself but also in attempt to make life easier for Lynnie as she spends more of her time living in the past due to her condition.
Debbie Johnson has portrayed life with dementia in a sensitive yet very real manner, celebrating the fun day to day happenings while still balancing these with the scary emotions both the sufferer and their family members go through every hour of every day.
Every book in this series has been a complete triumph and the latest instalment had me laughing and crying in equal measure.  One example of Debbie's brilliant writing which stood out for me was a quote from nonagenarian Edie: "It's not just your generation who does complicated.  The films might have been black and white back then, but our lives weren't." 

The series so far:












About the Author:

Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework. She writes romance, fantasy and crime - which is as confusing as it sounds!

Her best-selling books for HarperCollins include The Birthday That Changed Everything, Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, Cold Feet at Christmas, Pippa's Cornish Dream and Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper. Debbie's next title is The A-Z of Everything, released on April 20.

You can find her supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, featuring Liverpool PI Jayne McCartney, on Amazon, published by Maze/Avon Books.

Debbie also writes urban fantasy, set in modern day Liverpool. Dark Vision and the follow-up Dark Touch are published by Del Rey UK, and earned her the title 'a Liverpudlian Charlaine Harris' from The Guardian.