The Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse

The Day She Came Back by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days

Pages - 317

Publisher - Lake Union

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

When her loving, free-spirited grandmother Primrose passes away, Victoria is bereft, yet resilient—she has survived tragedy before. But even her strength is tested when a mysterious woman attends Prim’s funeral and claims to be the mother Victoria thought was dead.

As the two women get to know each other and Victoria begins to learn more about her past, it becomes clear that her beloved grandmother had been keeping life-changing secrets from her. Desperate for answers, she still struggles to trust anyone to tell her the truth.


My Review

Victoria has lived with her grandma as long as she can remember, her mum died of a drug overdose when she was just a baby. Any time Victoria tried to ask about her mum the conversation was closed down quickly. When Primrose (granny) dies suddenly and a strange lady comes to the funeral and says she is Victoria's mum, Victoria finds her world turned upside down. Grieving, disbelieving, angry and the boy she has always liked seems to be the only shoulder available (she has had a fall out with her bestie) poor Victoria doesn't know whether she is coming or going!

Prowse has a way of creating characters that whether you love or hate them you are absolutely enthralled. I really liked Primrose when we met her, feisty, eccentric and fabulous but as the book goes on we realised that guuuuuurl had some secrets!!! Victoria, I cut some slack because she is a teenager, a bit naïve, grieving but some of the things she does I wanted to shake her!

The book kinda has two halves almost, the initial opening, sudden grief and trying to find her way through it and then the aftermath of the shock that actually her mum is alive and why had everyone lied to her. The book deals with difficult topics as always, grief, addiction, sudden loss, manipulative people, secrets, lies and personal growth which is always a huge part of the stories Prowse tells which is why I think so many people can relate regardless of what the topic(s) are, 4/5.

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Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 352

Publisher - MichaelJoseph

Source - Arc Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock—and finds herself on the wrong side of the law—in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter in this pulse-pounding thriller from the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time.

There is nothing that Simone won’t do for her daughter, Lucy. The two have always been close, and with Lucy about to leave home for university, they depart the UK for a vacation to Texas to spend some quality time together. But when Simone awakens on their first morning in the desert, Lucy is gone, missing from their rental cabin. In her place is a cell phone, and a voice on the other line issues a shocking ransom demand. Don’t tell the police. Come to this location. And be prepared to do a deal…

Though Simone’s husband urges her to bring in the authorities for help, she knows she can’t take any chances. The kidnappers might kill Lucy if she tells anyone. No mother would take that risk. Instead, that night, she drives to the isolated meet-up.

What she finds there changes everything. The mysterious kidnapper doesn’t want money. They want Simone to do something. The unthinkable.

A catastrophic chain of events is set in motion, with chilling consequences that extend beyond Simone and her family. What follows is a heart-pounding journey through the small towns and punishing deserts of remote Texas, in which Simone’s courage—and morality—is pushed to the brink as she discovers what it truly means to be a mother.



My Review


Mother and daughter are back together after Lucy (daughter) has been away to a wee retreat style and now mum and daughter are doing a cabin/camping trip together before she heads to university. The trip is in USA, Texas and they are from the UK, after travel they finally meet and get to the cabin have a snack and go to bed. When Simone wakes it doesn't take long to notice Lucy is missing and a phone starts ringing, it isn't hers, it isn't Lucy's and Simone's world falls apart. Someone has kidnapped Lucy and Simone will do whatever it takes to get her back and the kidnapper has indeed offered a way to get her daughter back.

Oooft - it kicks off quite quickly and Simone is just a normal mum, maybe a bit more distrust of authority due to her upbringing with an addict parent and social work involvement. Her husband wants to go to the police, he is a lawyer and fixer but Simone will take no chances with her daughters life and is going to do exactly what she is told.

The book is kinda in two halves, the kidnap and Simone trying to follow the kidnappers instructions and what happens when she gets to the "end game" and everything that follows thereafter. There are a few scenes that are really tense and you totally feel for Simone. Some of her behaviours/attitudes and Lucy's did irritate and or annoy me but it is a highly charged sleep deprived state and trauma responses so you need to give a bit of leeway but still.

It has tense moments, some moments you are like oh no why why why and others I was like really?!?!?!? It absolutely kept me engaged and I wanted to know how it was all going to play out, I read it in one day which considering how my readers block has been is no mean feat, 4/5.

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The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 400

Publisher - Michael Joseph books

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

When Imogen is told she’s inherited a country house near Bath, she thinks it must be a mistake. She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago, during a tragic summer which changed her life for ever.
Now, with partner Josh in tow, it’s a chance for a fresh start.
But after discovering an old box with her name on it in Dorothea’s abandoned study, Imogen starts to believe the woman was trying to send her a secret message.
And when rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the life-line she thought it was.
Who would want to kill Dorothea?
Could it be tangled up in Imogen’s own dark family history?
And what if Imogen is now the one in danger?


My Review

The book flips between two characters, Dorothea, initially the incident that kicks everything off and then when we go to her chapters back through the years. And Imogen, Imogen met Dorothea years ago when her and her mum escaped DV from her father. Dorothea is an artist, eccentric, famous, rich and has more than a few secrets. Imogen's mum was a cleaner for Dorothea but they became friends and when they needed help, Dorothea offered her home. For four months a young Imogen flourishes and blooms but then her mum goes back to her dad and everything goes to pot. That was years ago, now Imogen has been left with everything and Dorothea's passing is looking like foul play. Is Imogen in danger and who is hanging around Dorothea's, well now Imogen's home.

There is so so much going on in this book! Like an onion, layers are revealed as we plough through, Dorothea has secrets, Imogen has a lot in her past and is off work pending investigation. Now out of the blue everything is changing, her journalist inquisitiveness is kicking off and Imogen thinks maybe that is why Dorothea done what she has done, she knew what Imogen would be like. So whilst Imogen is digging and exploring the house she has such fond memories of as a kid her boyfriend is along for the journey. The boyfriend!!!!! I didn't like him very quickly and as the book goes on oh my God I HATED him, he is such a tool and his behaviour and attitude I absolutely wanted Imogen to go full throtto on him. You know me I LOVE karma and people getting their comeuppance.

My last book before this I enjoyed but took me I think a week as I had a bit of readers block, this I read in less than 24 hours! Douglas has a way of drawing you in, one I am nosey so I wanted to know exactly what was going on, what happened, what was Dorothea hiding, what things does Imogine not like about her boyfriend, oh who is that, oh why did that happen, like there was so many twists and things thrown up! Hooked, absolutely hooked and more mysteries or secrets were coming and I love when a book does that. Sometimes when there is a fair few characters or a lot going on and or different timelines it can be really distracting especially when you have readers block but I was completely tuned in. That is always a testament to the authors writing, I have read this author before in the past but I absolutely need to check out her back catalogue. Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an arc, helping me over my reading blip and reminding me how much I enjoy this authors writing, 4.5/5 for me. The book is out on the 12th of March but you can pre order now, its a belter!

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Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 8 days

Pages - 584

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes Diana and Matthew on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey.


My Review

This is book two in the book series "A Discovery of Witches" - I often read books out of sequence or as standalones but I would advise reading book one. This picks up where book one left off, it was a long gap between reading that and this one. Diana and Matthew have fled to the past to try and find the Ashmole 782 which may help solve all their problems. You know, he is a vamp, she is a witch, the two aren't allowed to "fraternise" and these two have fallen in love and causing all manners of threats and death to be brought upon them. Convinced the Ashmole 782 will end all their and their species issues and may finally bring peace.

I would say the majority of the book is set back in the past, we do have wee tiny trips back to the present but to be honest not a whole lot happens in those chapters it is all the stuff set in the past. Jumping from the danger of present day and going back in time to when witches are being hunted, burnt, persecuted, Diana has trouble in abundance. Whilst Diana navigates the very different life and times of the time period they are also trying to find someone who can help Diana with her magic or lack of it. She is experiencing little flutters and sparks but is it just the magic of travelling back in time or could it be her powers are finally starting to come to the fort?

The book looks at the difficulties of their relationship, the fact they haven't consummated, how their relationship is, the dangers just being together has brought and even how dangerous it is being themselves where they have landed.

Meeting Mathews family and friends brings its own trials and tribulations, the time period, the literal witch hunts, love, loss, betrayal, magic - it is a mixed bag, 3.5/5. I did like it and enjoyed seeing more of their story, I also have book three to read but I did find it a wee bit slow in places.

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Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh

Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 464

Publisher - Piatkus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

My Review

Taming 7 is an epic and unforgettable love story in the international bestselling and TikTok-phenomenon The Boys of Tommen series, from Chloe Walsh.

She's the quintessential sunshine girl. He's the lovable class clown. But storm clouds are rolling in, and this Tommen boy is about to get serious.

Tommen's cheekiest lad, Gerard 'Gibsie' Gibson, has always been a comedian, but most people don't see what lurks beneath the surface. He is haunted by events of the past and he uses humor to cope, hiding his true self from the world.

Claire Biggs, the epitome of sunshine, has always loved Gibsie, her brother's friend and her favorite neighbor. She has always seen a side to him that no one else seems to notice. She becomes determined to tame her wild-at-heart childhood best friend.

When lines are crossed, it becomes unclear whether Gibsie and Claire's friendship will survive. Will it blossom into something more, or will they lose themselves in the wild?

Following characters that readers have grown to adore, Taming 7 will only expand your love for the Boys of Tommen universe.


My Review

This is book 5 in the boys of Tommen series, this book focuses centrally around Gibsie and Claire, Gibsie has been a big character since the series started. He is fiercely loyal, big mouth, a womaniser however he has always had a soft spot for Claire and Claire has always loved Gibsie. She see's Gerard, the soft kind thoughtful sensitive boy under all the filth, banter and nonsense. Claire's brother is teammate and pals with Gibsie but absolutely doesn't want him near his wee sister, understandably so. The book we get to see more of Gerard and the build up and turn in the friendship/relationship between Claire and Gibsie.

So these books have always been YA and the main characters teens but I felt books 1-4 were always more mature and depth, like the characters just seemed older. Probably because of the issues they were dealing with and how mature they were and had to be. This one absolutely had more of the YA feel, the teen angst, the attraction between the two that was acknowledged but never crossing the line. Lizzie, Claire's pal absolutely hates and I mean HATES Gibsie and whilst she is and has always been barbed and cutting this book she really got worse. As the book goes on and reveals it's secrets you get more of an understanding of why Gibsie takes so much of her crap and why Lizzie is so emotionally damaged and as Claire says, hurt people hurt people. I found Lizzie really difficult to stomach at times, her behaviour and Claire was so doormat at times and I get it it is how she is and she does get pushed to a limit but I would have snapped. Conversations would have been had and I did think oh Claire nooooo don't do that a fair few times but then need to remember that these ARE young adults, emotions and hormones are high and they don't always do the sensible thing.

I am looking forward to the next book, much as I am not a fan of Lizzie's at all I think we will hopefully get more depth into her and her behaviours. The books are mostly around the same(ish) time so I would read the previous books before this one, if nothing else they are so good and you get a better understanding for the characters/dynamics.

There is humour, daftness, annoyances, romance, teen exploration and dark dark themes, Walsh does give trigger warnings so check yours. I did enjoy this book but it just wasn't the same level as the previous four for me, so for that it is 3.5/5 for me this time. Very much looking forward to the next and I am sure we have more to come from the author.

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A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 183

Publisher - Puffin

Source - I honestly can't remember (been on the shelve for years)

Blurb from Goodreads

Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.

Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.



My Review

So this is my first time reading this author and I can't actually remember where I got the book but I finally picked it up. Ged, this is his story, apparently the best sorcerer ever (in Earthsea) so the book takes us across his lifetime. As a kid, learning magic and seemingly having a clear talent, he outgrows his initial teacher and gets an opportunity to train so of course he takes it (that part gave me a hint of Harry Potter style vibes). Whilst there is no denying he has a talent he also has pride and anger which gets him into scrapes and one particular blow up will follow him and danger is always afoot.

I LOVED the wee creature that befriended him, I liked that he had opportunities to train and develop but I think because the book is so thin we do go quickly past things that could have done with more depth.

There is jealousy (power rather than romantic, there isn't any romanceyness in this) its all magic, power and male pride. There is death and animal casualty which ALWAYS ruins a part of enjoyment of any story. Not graphic but it doesn't matter.

I did find it interesting but I would have liked more depth, it has hints of Lord of the Rings with a smidge of Harry Potterish but on a far lesser level. This is book one so it will be interesting to see what the other(s) do/cover, I won't be rushing out to buy them but I will read them if I come across them. A bit on the fence so a 3/5 for me this time.

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Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

Five Years From Now by Paige Toon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages -

Publisher -

Source -

Blurb from Goodreads

'Tender, heartbreaking and magical . . . I went from feeling warm and fuzzy to shock, delight before, finally, well – you'll just have to read it!'
GIOVANNA FLETCHER

What if you met the right person at the wrong time?

Nell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love, but soon they are forced worlds apart.

Five years later, they find each other. Their bond is rekindled and new feelings take hold, but once again they must separate.

For the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, as life and circumstance continue to divide them. Will they ever find true happiness? And will it be together?

‘One day, maybe five years from now, you’ll look back and understand why this happened…’



My Review

Forty is present day (the chapters are labelled with the age of our main character Nell), we open at forty (prologue) and then head to the past Five. This is when Nell first meets her soon to be step brother, Van, sitting on her bed, how rude. We then jump in blocks of five years (the whole theme going by her dads old you might look back five years from now and see things differently etc. In between the five year jumps we sometimes come back to "forty" which is present day and Nell's current life.

We see from the moment Nell and Van meet, reluctant but stuck together and eventually becoming friends and growing up until tragedy hits the family and everything changes. Over the years, pretty much every five years Nell and Van are brought together and unresolved issues and feelings flare.

The book goes through and explores themes of blended families, love, loss, friendship, attraction and a love that burns so brightly and deeply but fate and circumstances keeping them apart. I do enjoy Toon's books and even if I have a bit of a reader block I tend to find I can sink into these books, 4/5 for me this time, I have to bump my others up the tbrm!

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