Guilty by Martina Cole and Jacqui Rose

Guilty: the brand new novel by the legendary author by Martina Cole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 432

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Amazon

It's time to confess their sins.

Steph Barker can't forget her past. A single mother, Steph runs a women's shelter for local prostitutes while coming to terms with a tragic loss. And it's people like Joseph Potter, battling with his own grief, who keep her going.

When Hennie, one of her friends from the shelter, goes missing, Steph's convinced Hennie's violent pimp Artie Rogers has something to do with it. Steph and Artie go way back, but his reign of terror throughout the Medway towns is out of control and even she can't do anything to stop him. Then another prostitute disappears and it's time to find out who's guilty.

Everyone has their secrets - but one of them is getting away with murder.



My Review

If you have read Martina Cole you know what you are getting, this one is particularly dark. Steph runs a shelter for prostitutes, she got out of that life and knows just how hard it can be. She has her ex who is just a piece of work but he is the father of her daughter so he will always be around. Her current partner is on support after a hit and run that left him unresponsive and killed her wee baby. His brother runs the girls and rules with an iron fist, drugs and his partner who is a complete deviant with muscles. As some of the girls disappear Steph realises that something much darker than their pimp may well be on the prowl and no one is safe.

The book has some really dark themes, issues, sa, child abuse, murder, coercion, dv, manipulation, absolute deviants they would give you the absolute boke. We see families pushed to the brink and having to make choices so they can survive, threats of violence, being put in unimaginable positions. Prostitution features heavily throughout the book and all the perils that come with it, shady punters, predators, substance issues and a stalker/murderer.

When I finished this I needed to genre switch, a lot of the worst sides of humanity feature in this one as well as strength, love, friendship and family. There is child endangerment and some hard scenes and threats featuring them so be warned, 3.5/5 for me this time.

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The Magician by Michael Scott

The Magician by Michael Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 1 week (as able)

Pages - 464

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

After fleeing Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty emerge in Paris, the City of Lights. Home for Nicholas Flamel. Only this homecoming is anything but sweet. Perenelle is still locked up back in Alcatraz and Paris is teeming with enemies. Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, is working for Dee. He’s after them, and time is running out for Nicholas and Perenelle. For every day spent without the Book of Abraham the Mage, they age one year-their magic becoming weaker and their bodies more frail. For Flamel, the Prophecy is becoming more and more clear.

It’s time for Sophie to learn the second elemental magic: Fire Magic. And there’s only one man who can teach it to her: Flamel’s old student, the Comte de Saint-Germain-alchemist, magician, and rock star. Josh and Sophie Newman are the world’s only hope-if they don’t turn on each other first.


My Review

I read book one in 2018 so it had been a while but it was easy enough to pick back up where I was and it gives you info of what had passed. So the twins Sophie and Josh are on the run from some baddies, magical baddies. Nicholas Flamel is with them and a warrior vampire, Nicholas's wife has been kidnapped and held against her will. Sophie's power has been awakened but needs honed and training, Josh hasn't has his awakened, their parents have no idea of everything that has transpired. Get ready for a magical barney, old powers, legends, magic oh my.

So Nicholas has a nemesis, well probably many, this one is someone he taught everything he knows but has turned against him. They all know about the twins prophecy and suspect the teenage twins are those from the books.

Relationships, new characters, threats of all manners - warriors, monsters, magical creatures and powerful elders. You can tell Josh is a bit put out that all this is happening to his sister and he is still "normal" and with distrust of Flamel he is prime for manipulation.

I don't think everyone will love this one, I enjoyed it, all the mystical beings, magic, fights (both physical and for power). Josh is a bit annoying at times but he is just a teen and it must be hard watching his sister getting power(s) whilst he is still "normal".

I have the next two books to read so it will be interesting to see where the story takes us, character progression and there is a big war type building so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. The head (well one of cos even he has a boss) bad guy has so many allies and monsters/powerful creatures under his control whereas our wee group aren't that many and Nicholas is getting older and weaker and doesn't have his wife at his side, the odds aren't looking great. It is tres exciting, well the build up and seeing how it is going to play out, 4 stars for me!

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February competition

February is here!

Happy February guys, a wee themed competition. UK only, just the cost of post is wild the now!

So what is up for grabs?

As pictured, x1 pink love heart keyring, when you open it it has a little heart mirror and a wee section to put lip gloss or lip balm (NOT included). Click HERE this is my one, you use the wee spoon to transfer your chosen lip product.

X1 lovve heart lollipop as shown, I will pop a picture of the back up so you can see ingredients as it is as seen.

And x1 love heart book corner book mark, the winner picks one from the colours shown.

This is what they look like on

Good luck, to enter, use Gleam below (Rafflecopter is sadly no more but Gleam seems to be ok and the publishers often use it for their competitions.

February love themed comp

Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter

Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 400

Publisher - Harper Collins

Source - RAK

Blurb from Goodreads

Single, independent, crazy, aloof, on-the-shelf, lives alone...

It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin.

But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out...

When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she’s been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that’s all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself?

And if that’s as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready...

Fresh, funny and for anyone who’s ever felt astray, Cat Lady will help you belong – because a woman always lands on her feet.


My Review

Meet Mia, happily married, step mom and her and hubby have separate bedrooms - purely because he doesn't like her cat in the bed/bedroom and she won't lock her out. They also have his annoying ex wife who spends a ridiculous amount of time at their house making snide comments about Mia and her wee cat Pigeon. Mia also secretly goes to a pet grief support group and makes friends but her cat is alive, older but alive. Pigeon was there for Mia in one of the worst times and she will make sure she is always first. When something happens and shakes Mia's carefully constructed life she goes a bit off the rails, buckle in.

So I LOVED the first 3 quarters of this book, she made me laugh and obviously the poor folk grieving their wee animals, we know how heartbreaking that can be. It is good, well rounded and has chaos and drama, the shady bitchy ex, the husband and the unique individuals she works with. Los of lols and dramas and then the book has something happen and it always impacts my enjoyment of any story. I didn't see it coming and normally friends give me a heads up so I can prepare but I was totally blind and upset and even raging lol.

The book covers a range of themes and humour is infused so I really did enjoy it. Relationship issues, horrible snakey ex partners, bitchy work colleague, animal loss, grief, grief support group, stress, reactions to stress and grief, friendship, family and processing past family traumas. Many people will love this one and I did really like it, laughed and oh my God at a few scenes but the thing that I wasn't expecting really impacted my enjoyment. I have read her before and will read her again but animal lovers go in prepared, 3.5/5 for me.

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This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

Happy publication day, the book is available to buy NOW, from Amazon hardback, ebook and audio I think.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days (in and out as able)

Pages - 416

Publisher - Penguin Viking

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

Twelve stories. Twelve months. Once chance to heal her heart...

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…
The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.
Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?


My Review

Tilly is navigating life without her husband Joe, after a sudden illness robbed their future Tilly is doing what she needs to to get through an hour, a day, a week. Very much still in the throes of grief she gets a call from a small local book shop owner, a book for her. She naturally says there must be a mistake, she hasn't ordered anything then her world turns on its axis, it is from Joe. Once she gets over the shock, Tilly discovers that Joe has left her the most thoughtful gift, a book every month with a note from him. Each book is chosen by Joe to challenge her, make her take new adventures, push herself and start living again. When she thought her life and new memories with Joe was over he had planned ahead and every month (for 12 months) she gets a little gift in the form of a book and love to help her in the hardest time of her life.

AHHHHHHHH you guys! This very much gave me echoes of P.S I Love You, offt. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things but losing your husband before you really get a chance to do the things you planned. And we are all book lovers so this is just *chef's kiss* of an idea. The book store owner, Alfie, is a wee bit awkward but so so nice and I love his work colleagues, guys there is a cat in the shop like WHAAAAAAAT, love love love it.

So without giving spoilers cos we don't do that here, Joe spent a lot of time and thought into the books and gifts. Picking things that would push Tilly out her comfort zone, challenge her, make her enjoy new experiences and of course all whilst dealing with raw grief.

We learn about their relationship, how they met, Tilly being a total bookworm and a wee bit unique and the slow building friendship between her and Alfie. Whilst we mostly follow Tilly and her months leading up to and following the new book surprise we also get to met Alfie, his history, work colleagues and why the shop means so much and what he is hiding and trying to protect his workies from.

Emotive, sweet, navigating grief, work and Tilly's journey of personal growth and healing as she tries to get through every day of life without Joe. The book idea is just so lovely because well hello books, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE books but picking out of her comfort zone, why, the accompanying letters and how he is helping her heal from beyond the grave. This was my first book of Page's it won't be my last, 4/5.

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Inside The Mind of John Wayne Gacy by Brad Hunter

Inside the Mind of John Wayne Gacy: The Real-Life Killer Clown by Brad Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages -

Publisher -

Source -

Blurb from Goodreads

Brad Hunter has spent over thirty years writing about some of America’s most horrific crimes. In this new book he enters the mind of John Wayne Gacy, the real-life ‘Killer Clown’, often said to be the inspiration for Stephen King’s evil Pennywise in It.

Gacy lured victims to his home with the promise of work or a warm bed and then duped them into putting on handcuffs, claiming he wanted to show them a magic trick. He would then rape and torture his victims before killing them by suffocating or strangling them. Twenty-six were buried in the crawl space beneath his home; others were buried elsewhere on his property, while a handful were dumped in the Des Plaines River.

Gacy was executed for his crimes in 1994, but many questions remain unanswered. How many victims were there? Did Gacy act alone? And what drove John Wayne Gacy to murder? What caused the seemingly normal Gacy to sexually assault, torture and murder at least thirty-three young men and boys? local Democratic Party circles?

Drawing on his many years’ experience investigating and interviewing perpetrators of terrible crimes, Hunter seeks to understand what drove Gacy to unleash a reign of terror in suburban Chicago.


My Review

True crime about John Wayne Gacy, a pillar in his community, friends in high places, a construction company giving jobs to young men who often were down on their luck. When stirrings of trouble arise, when Gacy's name is mentioned again and again still nothing seems to be done nor connected because he couldn't be involved in young boys going missing. The book goes into who John Gacy was, the things he did, his marriage, his façade.

I have read a lot of true crime and whilst they always focus on the bad guy, the book is about him of course it does actually cover the victims, who they were. There has clearly been a lot of research done into this one, we get snippets from Gacy's own written words/accounts.

People who knew Gacy, the way the police worked at the time, how had the police actually taken seriously what was in front of them there would not have been as many victims. It is scary how some of these deviants are seemingly so normal until they are in front of his victims. It is scary how despite having such a shady red flags background and criminal charges he still went unchallenged for so long.

The book goes from Gacy's childhood up until after he is arrested and his debt to society is "paid" - with his last meal and even last words. For a short book it packs a lot, he is an evil man who was allowed to kill and harm unchecked for far too long, 4/5.

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Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 387

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series!
When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.



My Review

If you have seen or read The Hunger Games you know how Haymitch is, if you don't, don't worry you can start here because this is his story. We know Haymitch as being the drunk mentor to Katniss and Peeta, he seems a good guy but troubled and addicted booze. We know he won his hunger games hence mentor but we don't know anything else. Now we do. Its his birthday the same day as the tributes are picked for the games. He does what he can to keep him and his wee family afloat, his mum, brother and he has a girlfriend who is part of the Covey. Now Haymitch's worst fears are coming true and it takes everything he has to survive, the odds are against him at every turn, he is on Snow's radar and everyone is counting on him.

Ooft guys, twice the amount of tributes as the normal hunger games cos it's the fiftieth anniversary, it is bloody, it is murder, it is brutal, honestly the Capital and Snow are horrific. He isn't hugely seen in this one but he is the wizard behind the curtain, everything is through him, the cruelty, the brutality, ugh he is just a horror.

I felt so so much for Haymitch and I now want to go back and watch The Hunger Games but with my focus being on Haymitch now I know his back story. Love, family, loss, cruelty and you know the Hunger Games are very Gladiator like but with kids instead and the rich community betting on them surviving and Snow's game keepers manipulating things as and when they see fit.

Emotive, I didn't cry but I did feel heart sorry for Haymitch and knowing how Snow's story ends I think he got off lightly. An evil evil man causing terror, horror and cruelty, ugh! Some new characters to meet, like, hate and scream over, 4/5 for me.

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