Looking For Jane by Heather Marshall

 

2017

When Angela discovers a mysterious letter containing a life-shattering confession in a stack of forgotten letters, she begins to look for the intended recipient. Her search takes her to the 1970s and 80s, when a group of daring women operated an illegal underground abortion network known only by its whispered code name: Jane . . .

1971

As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was forced to give her baby up for adoption. Swearing she'll do everything she can to make sure other women have the right to choose, she joins the Jane Network to provide safe but illegal abortions. There, she crosses paths with Nancy, who was told that if she ever found herself 'in a position', she should ask for Jane. Nancy soon becomes the Network's newest volunteer, desperately trying to help others while family secrets threaten everything she knows to be true.

Over the years, Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela's lives intertwine to reveal the devastating consequences that come from a lack of choice, and the buried secrets that will always find a way to the surface . . .

I received a copy of this from the publisher Hodder and Staughton, and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I read this with Kath as our November buddy read, although I really should apologize as I took ages reading this and Kath finished it way before I did. But that was down to me being tired, nothing to do with the book. 

The story was so good, I loved it. A heartbreaking and beautiful tale of 3 women, whose lives intertwine and connect. I loved learning about all 3 of them.

I wasn’t surprised at how hard things were back then for women and girls who needed an abortion, and how scary it was for them trying to find it. What I was surprised with though was realizing  that this was happening not so long ago. What those women and girls went through, the fear of being caught, I can’t even imagine. But also what the girls went through in those homes, the Sisters treating them the way they did, taking their babies without consent, giving them away and sometimes even selling them. 

But the Jane’s, well they were lifesavers weren't they. I’ve been researching them as I’m really interested in what they have done. Amazing women standing up for a much needed cause. They put their lives at stake to do what they did. 

I’d definitely recommend this book, it’s opened my eyes to just how scary and frightening this all was. I was about to say I’m glad things have changed and its different now, but honestly, in some places it still hasn’t.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finley Boylan

 

Olivia fled her abusive marriage to return to her hometown and take over the family beekeeping business when her son was six. Now Asher is over 6 feet tall and in his last year of high school, a kind, good-looking, popular ice hockey star with a tiny sprite of a new girlfriend who Olivia loves. Then Lily is found with a catastrophic head injury at the bottom of the stairs - and Asher is arrested on a charge of murder... what was the truth of their relationship?

I received a copy of this from the publisher Hodder and Staughton, and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I love Jodi Picoult and had my eyes on Netgalley for this one popping up early, so I was pretty excited to get approved for it! I’ve never read any of Jennifer Finley Boylands books but I will be on the lookout now!

This one reminded me of Jodi’s old days, back to her original style of shocks and twists. I loved it, every page. The twist halfway through is something that neither me or my buddy readers (some of the girls also got it approved and we read it alongside each other) guessed what was coming. I wont say any more as to not give anything away.

I loved the characters, I really felt like I knew them, which is the way Ms JP always makes me feel in her writing. I learned a lot about Beekeeping and Bees in general while reading this, I love how there’s always something in her stories which make you want to learn more. And then this huge controversial topic which blows you away.

Honestly, just give this one a go, whether you’ve read either authors books before or not, I’d suggest you read this one. Also read the authors words after the book, I love the story of how thes two wonderful ladies came up with the idea for the book.

Thanks again to Netgalley and Hodder and Staughton for my advanced arc, obviously I went out on release day and bought myself a copy :)

Nobody But Us by Laure Van Rensburg

 

Steven Harding is a handsome, well-respected professor. Ellie Masterson is a wide-eyed young college student. Together, they are driving south from New York, for their first holiday: three days in an isolated cabin, far from the city.

Ahead of them, the promise of long, dark nights - and the chance to explore one another's bodies, away from disapproving eyes. It should be a perfect, romantic trip for two.

Except that he's not who he says he is. But then again, neither is she…

I was really excited to be on the tour for this one, I went into it not knowing much about the book, or the storyline really, and I’m glad I did! 

This book was, as I described it immediately after finishing, bat-shit crazy. I don’t even want to go into too much about it here as to spoil anything for anyone, but the twists and turns this one takes is mental. Two liars, a remote cabin, no phone signal, no neighbors, and a lot of secrets… what could go wrong!

If you like psychological thrillers with a bit of blood and gore too, I would recommend you check this one out!

Thanks so much to Penguin Random House for my gifted physical copy of this book, and for asking me to be on the tour. 

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

 

Set in a small Irish town and following a coal and timber merchant confronted by the past, this magnetic tale of determination and quiet heroism from the author of Foster is as hopeful as it is haunting.

It is 1985, in an Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant, faces into his busiest season. As he does the rounds, he feels the past rising up to meet him - and encounters the complicit silences of a people controlled by the Church.

This book has been on my radar for a little while so I decided to jump in a few nights ago. This book is lovely, I loved the descriptions of Furlongs work day, his home life. Honestly the book was set in 1985, but it gave off feels of being able to be set anytime from then to now. Claire Keegan writes with such beauty, I could feel myself walking along through the snowy streets, feel the cold, and feel the sense of community in their little town. 

The story is short but packs a punch, and the end made me feel quite happy and sad at the same time. It’s hard to believe the things that were going on weren’t so long ago, in fact the year I was born, 1985.

No wonder it was shortlisted for awards, and won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Life is short.

No-one knows that better than seventeen-year-old Lenni. But as she is about to learn, it's not only what you make of life that matters, but who you share it with.

Dodging doctor's orders, she joins an art class where she bumps into fellow patient Margot, a rebel-hearted eight-three-year-old from the next ward. Their bond is instant as they realize that together they have lived an astonishing one hundred years.

To celebrate their shared century, they decide to paint their life stories: of growing old and staying young, of giving joy, of receiving kindness, of losing love, of finding the person who is everything.

As their friendship deepens, it becomes vividly clear that life is not done with Lenni and Margot yet.

An extraordinary friendship. A lifetime of stories. Their last one begins here.

I buddy read this one with Emmie, our first buddy read together! I also sent it to Emmie for her birthday so it made it an extra special buddy read.

Wow can I just say this book is amazing. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it. So I think it’s my favourite read so far this year. 

You need a warning before you read this book though, you can’t read it without having a box of tissues close by! It is unbelievably sad in so many ways, but the last few chapters left me with a tear soaked pillow, a headache, and a broken heart.

This is the story of 17 year old Lenni, and 83 year old Margot. Together they make 100. And so comes the story of them both, telling the stories of their lives though paintings and spoken word to each other. I loved the idea of the paintings, 17 from Lenni and 83 from Margot. Marianne has written this amazingly, I could see the pictures so clearly.

Their friendship is beautiful, such a natural bond between these two ladies so different but quite alike. Lenni’s character was brilliant, such a funny charismatic girl. I liked how outspoken she was and didn’t have filter before saying things her relationship with Father Arthur was a lovely one too, an unexpected one. Margot was amazing, the stories she had, the things she’s been through in her life. I loved reading about her and he husband, lying watching the stars at night.

There are so many lovely things about this story but I shall leave you to read them for yourself. Please grab this if you can, but bring the tissues, you will need them!

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

 

It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A local news legend is on the hunt for a sensational headline, and soon the gang are hot on the trail of two murders, ten years apart.

To make matters worse, a new nemesis pays Elizabeth a visit, presenting her with a deadly mission: kill or be killed…

While Elizabeth grapples with her conscience (and a gun), the gang and their unlikely new friends (including TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels) unravel a new mystery. But can they catch the culprit and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?

I was so excited to get my hands on this when it was released, and dived in as quick as I could! I love The Thursday Murder Club gang, and was happy to see them back again.

The new additions were very welcome, and I hope to see more of them in the future books (YES Osman has signed for 3 more Thursday Murder Club stories!!!!). I think this one was the best one yet, so I have high hopes for the next one. 

I love Elizabeth, she’s so matter of fact and to the point isn’t she. I was glad to see her acing a little more turmoil than usual (yeah you’d think that wouldn’t be possible wouldn’t you), but the kill or be killed mission was a hell of a mission. I loved it, I love the whole gang, and can just imagine them really sitting trying to figure out old unsolved murders.

Read it, you ll love it I’m sure! 

The Safe House by Louise Mumford

 

Esther is safe in the house. For sixteen years, she and her mother have lived off the grid, protected from the dangers of the outside world. For sixteen years, Esther has never seen another single soul.

Until today.

Today there's a man outside the house. A man who knows Esther's name, and who proves that her mother's claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Esther that she's been living a lie.

Is her mother keeping Esther safe - or keeping her prisoner?

I was very excited to get a spot on the tour for this one though InstaBook Tours!

This is the first of Louise Mumford’s books I’ve read and really enjoyed it. It had very easy to read and quick chapters which I love, it means I can grab a chapter or 2 in before I fall asleep at night.

I really liked Esther, I was rooting for her throughout, and was really excited when she saw the man outside the house! It was very cult like to me, Mother making her repeat the whole ‘Who keeps us safe….’ mantra every night. But I was also interested in how mother kept everything ‘safe’ as she put it. So many things Esther didn’t know about. 

It was a good story, with a good ending. I’d definitely read more of Louise’s books. Thanks so much to InstaBook Tours for my advanced e-arc, and for my spot on the tour.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

 

Finding Me is Viola Davis' story, in her own words, and spans her incredible, inspiring life, from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present day. Hers is a story of overcoming, a true hero's journey. Deeply personal, brutally honest, and riveting, Finding Me is a timeless and spellbinding memoir that will capture hearts and minds around the globe.

I got this book as a Sky VIP gift, an audiobook which I downloaded but put aside as I’m not a fan of audiobooks. Well I must have been listening to the wrong type of audiobook as I couldn’t put this one down, and absolutely drank it in over 3 days.

I think Viola Davis is an absolute Queen, and this book, her story, is amazing. And as its Black History Month too, this was a brilliant one to read.

The first line is probably the best first line I’ve read. ‘C**ksucker Motherf***er! And in my opinion, it has to be listened to to get the full impact.

I loved listening to her voice, and her talking about her parents. How they grew up, they weren’t poor she says, they were Po’.Listening to her talk about the relationship between her mother and father was hard, she talks about the beatings, the arguments, and one really scary memory of her father trying to break her mothers legs. I can’t even imagine what it was like growing up like that, so no one can understand fully why she still loved her daddy so much until the very end. I did however, kind of get it, and loved hearing of her parents being so proud of her career and seeing her perform.

She has a great relationship with her whole family, including siblings, and some really good friends. But she was also so lonely a lot of the time, plenty of people around, but lonely all the same. Hearing what she went through as a black child growing up around different skinned folk. Being called the worst names, beaten for her skin colour. My heart broke for that little girl.

She broke into the industry on her own merit, she pushed and pushed until she got what it was she wanted. And what she very much deserved. I liked listening to her stories about other actors she met, other brilliant women she acted alongside. But mostly, how important it was to her to play the right kind of roles. 

Viola is an amazing, beautiful, strong black woman. And I really would recommend everyone read (or listen) to her story.

Thank you Viola.

Which Would You Rather by Graeme Puckett

 

A black comedy NN where the hero is an incompetent psychopath. Brian is a troubled and easily irritated man with flexible morals. Passionate about film, he sees film references in everything. As an artist, a surrealist, his love of art, and colour in particular, tend to guide his judgements and decisions. Many of Brian's challenges in life are a result of an inept social awareness and some fairly politically incorrect ways of thinking. Consequently, these challenges usually lead to even greater dilemmas involving an array of new crimes and misdemeanours for him. Killing three of his neighbours - albeit in record time, of which he is extremely proud - do nothing to help Brian's situation. Inclined to lie and cheat his way out of, and into, trouble, his options increase once he has become a killer and the murders have been committed. Now, in Brian's mind, any lesser crime has become acceptable and free to use in his bid to escape detection.

Thanks so much to Literally PR for my gifted review copy.

I was rather intrigued by this book when I saw it on Literally PR’s proof list, so I jumped at the chance to review it. So it starts off quite quickly with the murders happening quite near the start. To say they happen in quick succession is an understatement, I remember being shocked at the end of each killing, if you read it you will know why.

Brian’s way of thinking is so different. He’s obviously a murderer, so you know we don’t like him, but we also are very intrigued by him. There is a part in the book which mentions On The Spectrum, and being a mother to 2 children with Autism I can see this completely (not the being a murderer part mind you, just the literal way of thinking, and seeing things beyond what they look like on the surface). He’s actually a very interesting person in a way, and it made me want to read more. The way he plays everything out as a movie scene in his head, it got to the point where I could actually see what he was seeing.

I devoured the book over 2 days really and weirdly enjoyed it! Also, Arse Paste made me actually laugh out loud to the point my husband asked why I was laughing.

Definitely an interesting one, give it a go!

Thanks again to Graeme, and Literally PR for my proof and asking me to be on the tour.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

 

In a town full of secrets... Someone was murdered. Someone went to prison. And everyone's a suspect. Can you uncover the truth?

Dear Reader - enclosed are all the documents you need to solve a case. It starts with the arrival of two mysterious newcomers to the small town of Lockwood, and ends with a tragic death. Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What's more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed.

Throughout the Fairway Players' staging of All My Sons and the charity appeal for little Poppy Reswick's life-saving medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. Yet we believe they gave themselves away. In writing. The evidence is all here, between the lines, waiting to be discovered. Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth?

I wish I had jumped into this book sooner! It’s been on my shelves for a while and I just thought why not try it. Well by gosh was it good! I was addicted after reading the first few pages. The book is written so different to anything I’ve ever read before. It’s all documents, emails, and conversations, and you have to really read into them to figure out what’s going on and who done what. But its so cleverly done too, I had no idea what the ending was going to be at all, and no I did not figure it out! There are so many different ways you could go after evading the correspondence, but I guarantee you’ll have fun trotting to guess.

If you haven’t already read this one. I suggest you do. I went out the day after I finished it and bought Janice’s second book The Twyford Code! Massive 5 stars from me on this one.

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has always loved Margo Roth Spiegelman, for Margo (and her adventures) are the stuff of legend at their high school. So when she one day climbs through his window and summons him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow. But the next day Margo doesn't come to school and a week later she is still missing. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance . . . and they are for him. But as he gets deeper into the mystery - culminating in another awesome road trip across America - he becomes less sure of who and what he is looking for.

I read this with my buddy reader pal Kath. We’ve read a few together now and this was our second John Green novel, the first being Looking For Alaska. 

We both enjoyed this one, and we kept on chatting throughout about what was happening. We both agreed on the ending being not what we expected, and a little disappointing. But overall we enjoyed the story. It gave me ‘Looking For Alaska’ vibes, the kids running around, sneaking away from the grown ups and doing random stuff they shouldn’t have been doing.

I like Q, and I liked his friends. Margo was a bit hit and miss for me, sometimes I liked her, sometimes I didn’t. 

If you like John Greens books I’d recommend it. 

Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed by Chris and Rosie Ramsay

 

SH**GED

Saturday nights out on the tiles, undying crushes, dating like it's a competitive sport, awkward tales of dating woes, one-night stands, the walk of shame, ghosting, tears and break-ups.

MARRIED

Finding 'the one', meeting their parents, first holidays and romantic weekends away, engagement rings, big moment proposals, wedding bells, the hen do, the stag, the much anticipated - and feared - best man speech, the honeymoon of a lifetime.

ANNOYED

Who stacks a dishwasher like this? Empty milk cartons placed back into the fridge, pregnancy, sleepless nights, toilet seats up, toothpaste everywhere, less and less frequent date nights, DIY weekends, divorce.

Whether you're sh**ged, married, annoyed, or, all of the above, Chris and Rosie Ramsey, hosts of the number one podcast, write hilariously and with honesty about the universal highs and lows of life, dating, relationships, arguments, parenting and everything in between.

I’ve always liked Chris and Rosie, but recently binged all of their tv series and now bloody love them lol. So obviously I had to get another fix and buy their book (late to the party I know). This book is so freaking funny, I laughed out loud in so many places (places of the book, not actual places, I read it all at home… some of it on the loo, that could have fit in with their ‘poo section’). 

Okay, anyway yes this book is hilarious, and soooo true. There were so many bits I know everyone will resonate with, but the parenting bits were just absolutely spot on. The emails from fans were brilliant, the stories sometimes disgusting were also hilarious (I could probably have my own chapter in there to be honest). But I loved the way you can just get their relationship from the way they were talking (or typing), they bounce off each other so well. They seem a perfect fit, and they are both so funny, but you know they really do love each other. 

So to Chris and Rosie from a fellow Geordie, please write another book, do more tv, and keep on laughing.

Ben and Sally by Oliver Sparshot

Ben has ditched his entire life to move to London, and Sally needs a roommate. A match made in heaven? Maybe not - because Ben is more interested in sleeping in other men's beds than finding one of his own, and Sally is probably the worst housemate in the entire city!

Based on a real life diary, this funny, heart-warming and true story leaves NOTHING to the imagination.

Okay, so this book opens with a bang (literally by the way)! I was gutted I missed out on being on the tour, so I decided to buy it on release day and read it as quick as I could. It is absolutely hilarious, and down right rude! In a good way though.

I love the way each chapter starts with a little text conversation between Ben and Sally (& Kate), and it had me guessing for so long as to who Kate was, we find out about halfway through the story, and it made so much sense! I love both Ben and Sally, and think they would just be perfect friends. Ben’s mother also plays a brilliant role, and has some smashing crack.

There were so many laugh out loud parts, at one point I even snorted and the dog looked at me funny! The best line from the story is ‘Yes! It’s too much for a fucking ice cream.’ This was the snorty part.

Along with all the laughs is a whole butt load of sex (don’t pardon the pun, the pun was intentional), and boy oh boy is it graphic! But don’t let that put you off, as the story is just brilliant, a hoot and a half. 

I’m really looking forward to season 2, and I’m definitely going to try to jump on the tour for that one (so keep me informed Instabooktourstours!!)

Falling by T.J Newman

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don't know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot's family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

I read this with my friend Kath, I love our buddy reads as we always chat loads.

Well if this book isn’t gripping then I don’t know what the hell is! I was glued. I read the first 8 chapters, then stopped to let Kath catch up. But once we both started properly again, we had to finish. I raced through the last 100 or so pages in one morning as I just couldn’t put it down!

The book all takes place within 6 hours I think, either on the plane or down on the ground with the Bad Guy, and the pilot’s family. All I kept thinking was what would I do in this situation. The pilot is amazing, Bill his name is. I loved reading his parts, trying to figure out what he was going to do, how he was feeling, and how was he staying so calm? There were so many times me or Kath messaged each other saying things like ‘OMG ch8’! OMG ch 18’.

Honestly I’d recommend everyone read this, what a debut novel it is! Fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. Very exciting read . Well done Ms Newman… I don’t know if I’ll fly again!

How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

I have killed several people (some brutally, others calmly) and yet I currently languish in jail for a murder I did not commit.

When I think about what I actually did, I feel somewhat sad that nobody will ever know about the complex operation that I undertook. Getting away with it is highly preferable, of course, but perhaps when I'm long gone, someone will open an old safe and find this confession. The public would reel.

After all, almost nobody else in the world can possibly understand how someone, by the tender age of 28, can have calmly killed six members of her family. And then happily got on with the rest of her life, never to regret a thing.

How To Kill Your Family was Tsundoku Squads May read. We done this one a little different, one of us found a book group app where comments are hidden until you click the post. So we decided to make little chats for each chapter so we could choose which ones to discuss when we wanted.

This meant though some of us finished the book quickly, so we had to catch up on others comments when we were done. I liked doing it this way, it meant I could get on with reading the book instead of pieces each week, I think it helped me enjoy it more.

I gave this book 5 stars, I loved it. It was a bit far fetched at times but I think that added to the excitement. I realised I was rooting for the main character the whole time, and she’d offed most of her family, she was not a good person! The killings are all different, one was extremely strung out and a lot of work went into it. Others were still researched but happened a little quicker.

I was a little disappointed with the end but not enough to lower the rating I gave it. I’d recommend this one, a funny book with some mad twists.

Check out Em’s collective group thoughts over on her blog emandherbooks.com

Book Tour - The Setup by Lizzy Dent

There are two men in my life. But this is not a love triangle.

Mara Williams reads her horoscope every day - but she wasn't expecting to be in a whole other country when destiny finally found her. Just as a fortune teller reveals that her true love is about to arrive, a gorgeous stranger literally walks into her life. And now Mara is determined to bring them together again . . . Surely even fate needs a nudge in the right direction sometimes?

But while Mara is getting ready for 'the one', the universe intervenes. Her new flatmate Ash is funny, and kind, and sexy as hell . . . There was no predicting this: it's as if her destiny just arrived on her doorstep.

So will Mara put her destiny in fate's hands - or finally trust herself to reach for the stars?

I was very excited when this book dropped through my door, I loved The Summer Job and love being part of Lizzy’s Lobster Army!

I ended up giving The Setup 3.5 stars. I was drawn in at first, but felt the second half dwindled a bit. I liked Mara, but at times I found her quite annoying. There were things she done which I just thought probably wasn’t a good idea. I loved the fact that she started concentrating on herself, making herself feel better etc.

 I loved the character of Ash, and found him a very kind person. I also really liked Joseph, the gorgeous stranger, I loved the idea of him being in the orchestra, and I imagined him like someone’s from 2 Cellos. 

I know who I was rooting for throughout the story, I wonder if you were or will root for the same person!

Thanks to Viking Books for my beautiful proof, and for asking me to be on the tour. Good luck to Lizzy for the release!

BLOG TOUR - Wild Fires by Sophie Jai

Grief is like an inside joke: you have to have been there to really get it.

The only things Cassandra knows about her family are the stories she's heard in snatches over the years: about the aunt and cousin she never got to meet, about the man from the folded-up photograph in one of her aunt's drawers, and of course about her cousin Chevy, and why he never speaks - but no one utters a word about them any more.

When a call from one of her sisters brings Cassandra news of Chevy's death, she has to return home for the funeral. To Toronto and the big house on Florence Street, where her sisters are hiding more than themselves in their rooms, where the tension brewing between her mother and aunts has been decades in the making, and where sooner or later every secret, unspoken word and painful memory will find its way out into the open.

Moving between Toronto and Trinidad, Wild Fires is a vivid and compelling story exploring the ways we mourn and why we avoid the very things that can save us.

I was very excited to be on the tour for Wild Fires, and love the beautiful physical copy HarperCollins sent me.

Wild Fires is a story of grief, it delves so deep into how grief and death effect everyone differently. I loved the character Cass, and I loved her mother. What a character her mother was! I did laugh out loud at a couple of phrases she used, I could picture her perfectly in my head. Big, headstrong, no nonsense woman, who wouldn’t be afraid to smack you round the head if you were cheeky.

Cassandra’s family seemed so shrouded in mystery and secrets, and I loved figuring things out from the past. I particularly enjoyed the parts which went back to the past, to Trinidad, when the aunts were young, getting jobs, meeting boys etc. The sound of the fresh food in the store, the colours and the heat. Made me want to be there. 

I think you’d like this book, it stays with you for a while after. Try it. 

Thanks again to HarperCollins for letting me join the tour, and the book. And of course to Sophie Jai for writing it.