My Review for The Switch by Beth O'Leary, narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love a good Audiobook whilst I’m dead-heading flowers in my garden and The Switch by Beth O’Leary just allowed me to retreat into two different people’s lives for a while!

Leena Cotton lives in London, her grandmother Eileen lives in a small Yorkshire village, and currently, neither are content with their lives, so they decide to switch places for two months. Eileen disappears off to stay in Leena’s flat in London whilst Leena moves into her grandmother’s cottage in Yorkshire, complete with two cats and an irritating neighbour!

I became completely absorbed in The Switch, narrated by two brilliant actors, Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) as Leena, and Alison Steadman as Eileen. I find it makes such a difference when narrators become involved in the story and draw the listener in. 

O’Leary writes with such humour and enthusiasm, particularly with Eileen’s chapters, that I defy anyone not to smile, at least a little. The Switch shows you can achieve anything in life as long as you are determined and have the support of your family and friends. 

If you don’t want to know what’s going to happen, then I’d advise you not to read the synopsis (I never do), it gives too much away, just buy the book and settle down with a cup of Yorkshire tea and enjoy!

I’d love to read more about the Silver Shoreditch Social Club along with Eileen and Leena, so if you’re reading this Beth, can we have a sequel, please!

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My Review for Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My second Audiobook from Sarah J. Maas and the first in the Throne of Glass series. I considered reading a physical copy. However, I’m out and about in the garden so much these days, and I love Elizabeth Evans narrating. I thought I’d lose myself in a fantasy world for a few hours. It was so awesome; I loved everything about it....but Mum, if you’re reading this, don’t bother, it’s not for you! However, if you love fantasy, fae, witches, paranormal, and anything other-worldly, then prepare to lose yourselves in the life of Celaena Sardothien.

Celaena is a bad-ass assassin who is experiencing a reprieve from the salt mines of Endovier where she has been sentenced to hard labour. The Crown Prince is offering her, her freedom in a competition to find the King’s next assassin. If she wins, she will work for the King for a few years, before she gains her freedom. If she loses, she will be back in the salt mines.

As with the previous Sarah J. Maas book I listened to, the beginning is quite laborious while she sets the scene and brings in the characters, but once you work out who everyone is and their role; I defy you not to get entangled in another world. Be warned though, although the story of the competition bears a resemblance to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it is a lot more difficult to get into and certainly not written for children.

Celaena loves books and reading and when she gets to the castle, one of the first things she does is ask if she can borrow books from the library. You’ve got to love an author who creates characters who enjoy a good book!

Too many people write reviews with spoilers in them, so I’m going to leave mine there. Read it and let me know what you think.

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My Review for Freckles by Cecilia Ahern

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Freckles by Cecelia Ahern.

‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with’. A man with a yellow Ferrari says these words to Allegra Bird, otherwise known as Freckles, and so begins her philosophical search into which five people are the most influential in her life.

Allegra is a parking warden in Dublin, but originally from Valentia Island in Kerry, where her father still lives. Allegra is a troubled young lady with a disrupted childhood and leaves Kerry to try and discover her past. Throughout her journey, she meets a wide variety of people from varying backgrounds, and many of them; she incorporates into her life. 

I loved (and hated) all these unique characters, and they enhanced the story and Allegra’s life as she discovers who she really is and how they will influence her as she moves forward on her journey.

Ahern wrote Freckles by incorporating any speech into the general text, and I found this a little confusing, however, it was only a minor distraction, and once I became familiar with having to watch out for who was actually speaking, and when, it became less of an issue.

The ‘average of five people’ phrase got me thinking, as I’m sure it will many people, who the five are in my life. I concluded these five will change as you go through the different phases of your life and, although there may be one or two constants, you will never keep the same five.

Freckles is a great, easy-read book which lovers of Irish writing and the Irish countryside will enjoy.

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My Review for The Lost Secret of Ireland (Starlight Cottages Book 2) by Susanne O'Leary

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Lost Secret of Ireland (Starlight Cottages Book 2), by Susanne O’Leary.

Ella is living in Sandy Cove, a small village nestled on the Irish coast, and has had a disastrous few weeks, breaking her pelvis whilst painting a mural and falling from a dodgy ladder! She is now relying on her friends and neighbours to help her, and they are rallying around, helping with her shopping and making meals for her, but she is finding it slightly overbearing. When her late mother’s best friend, Lucille, offers to come and stay to help Ella get back on her feet, she jumps at the chance. It soon becomes apparent that Lucille has other reasons for coming to Sandy Cove, though, and although she is Ella’s lifesaver, she is also continuing with her secret mission and keeping her reasons very much to herself. 

Each character brought their own ‘little bit of something’ to Sandy Cove and before long, you can see that they either are or will shortly become a part of village life. The Lost Secret of Ireland is very much a book about the importance of friends and family and how living in a small community automatically brings people closer together.

Although this is the second Starlight Cottages book, it can be read as a stand-alone novel, but I think it will definitely make you want to read the first!

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My Review for The Woman on the Beach by Julia Roberts

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Woman on the Beach by Julia Roberts.

Sophie, Liv, and Grace were friends from childhood, experiencing school, university, and the beginnings of their lives as young women together until a tragic event occurs, and things are never the same again. Who is the woman that Liv spots on the beach in Mexico, and why are they both there at the same time?

The Woman on the Beach is an emotional rollercoaster of a story, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, desperate to discover just what was going to happen next. The author leads us down so many different paths, with twists and turns along the way, each time with an unexpected outcome.

Roberts has created each and every one of her characters with great thought, love, and joy, delving deep into each one to enable us to know them intimately. I felt their pain and heartache, love and understanding, with each tear-jerking revelation. This book makes you realise that no one knows what goes on behind closed doors and makes you question whether we really know the people closest to us. 

Beach read, thriller and psychological drama, The Woman on the Beach has it all. Definitely worthy of 5 stars and I defy anyone not to read it in just a couple of days! Once you’ve started, you won’t stop!

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My Review for House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  OMG, this is awesome! I urge everyone who loves anything paranormal to read this. I have heard of Sarah J. Maas, an enormous amount in all the Facebook groups I am in, but I’ve read none of her books! Why not? I need more of her in my life! I actually listened to House of Earth and Blood as an Audiobook (narrated by Elizabeth Evans), and was transported into Crescent City as I walked my dog!

Bryce Quinlan is half-fae and half-human, working for a barely legal antiquities dealer in the City. She lives and parties with her best friend Danika Fendyr until a tragic event occurs, which changes Bryce’s life forever. 

I never like to give too much away in my brief synopsis of books (in fact I never read them before I read a book, as long as I know the genre then that’s enough for me), as I don’t like to include too many spoilers for readers.

The first part of House of Earth and Blood is really slow, as Maas sets the scene and explains the politics and hierarchy of Crescent City but as long as you can get through that part then I’m sure you’ll love the story as much as I did.

There are fae, sprites, angels, demons, and shifters in Crescent City with a lot of violence from the outset. The author is outstanding as she creates her characters. Some you will love and some you will wish dead, but they all have a part to play and the story is addictive. Bryce is a tough cookie on the outside, but underneath, she has had a difficult beginning in her life and you can see the vulnerability as the story progresses.

House of Earth and Blood is New Adult fiction, a developing genre with 18-30-year-old protagonists, and something I hadn’t heard of until today. Think Young Adult but with more ‘racy’ content! Go get it today, you won’t be disappointed.

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My Review for Greece Actually by Sue Roberts

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Greece Actually by Sue Roberts.

Becky lives a quiet life in a small Lancashire town, running her own business where she makes soaps and sells them from a tiny shop down a side street in the small market town. Escaping from a traumatic episode a few years ago, Becky moved up north to begin again, where no one knows her and she was closely followed by her supportive parents. Upon being given the opportunity to escape for a couple of weeks to a villa in Greece, Becky and her two friends jump at the chance and so begins the holiday, which may change Becky’s life forever. 

I’m pretty sure this is the first Sue Roberts’ book I have read (although I can never be sure), but it’s definitely the first one since I’ve been reviewing books. This book was just so, so lovely, sheer escapism in an exquisite setting with Roberts describing everything in such great detail you can imagine that you were with Becky every step of the way. I wanted to be with her when she was reading her book on the harbour front, watching the world go by and I definitely fancy trying the aubergine dip! 

I love a book set anywhere, where the sun and the sea play a part, and this was no exception. Let yourself escape to Skiathos for a few hours with Becky and her friends and enjoy the relaxation that this story will bring you.

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