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traceyroberts's reviews
602 reviews
The Promise of Tomorrow: Discover a BRAND NEW beautiful, emotional book club pick from bestseller Samantha Tonge for 2024 by Samantha Tonge
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Samantha Tonge is a completely new author to me so when Boldwood Books offered me the opportunity to read "The Promise of Tomorrow" ahead of release I almost declined... But there was something about the cover that drew me to read the blurb and then I was intrigued.
Ten year old Elena’s mother has been in a life threatening accident that the doctors don't expect her to survive. Understandably young Elena is distraught and so she sneaks out the house to the woods. There she meets a stranger and makes them a promise which will in turn save her mother's life. But while keeping her mother safe, young Elena puts her own life at stake.
The premise of this book really drew me in and after reading the prologue I was hooked. The story then jumps to twenty years later and Elena is almost thirty, has a successful career and is doing well with her life. However the promise she made as a child looms over her, especially now her 30th birthday is drawing ever closer. This plot definitely kept me turning the pages to find out more.
I loved the characters of Elena and Rory and I enjoyed the friends to lovers vibe. While most of the story is told from Elena’s POV, Rory gets his say too and I enjoyed his journal entries. The two main characters are supported by some loveable side characters which gave me the whole found family feels.
Overall I found this to be a heartwarming and uplifting romance story with a mystical and unexpected twist. I enjoyed this authors writing style and I am keen to explore more of her novels.
Ten year old Elena’s mother has been in a life threatening accident that the doctors don't expect her to survive. Understandably young Elena is distraught and so she sneaks out the house to the woods. There she meets a stranger and makes them a promise which will in turn save her mother's life. But while keeping her mother safe, young Elena puts her own life at stake.
The premise of this book really drew me in and after reading the prologue I was hooked. The story then jumps to twenty years later and Elena is almost thirty, has a successful career and is doing well with her life. However the promise she made as a child looms over her, especially now her 30th birthday is drawing ever closer. This plot definitely kept me turning the pages to find out more.
I loved the characters of Elena and Rory and I enjoyed the friends to lovers vibe. While most of the story is told from Elena’s POV, Rory gets his say too and I enjoyed his journal entries. The two main characters are supported by some loveable side characters which gave me the whole found family feels.
Overall I found this to be a heartwarming and uplifting romance story with a mystical and unexpected twist. I enjoyed this authors writing style and I am keen to explore more of her novels.
Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton is a festive murder mystery with a difference. A true Christmas cracker of a read.
Anna wakes up Christmas Eve morning after their annual party with the worst hangover, a dead santa in her larder and what's worse is her in laws are coming to stay for Christmas. When the police arrive it's obvious that they are more interested in getting back to the station for their Christmas pies than solving the murder. So Anna and friend Jennie are left to solve the murder themselves. They get their murder boards out and work through their suspect list. Will they find our who stabbed Santa with a knife from Anna's sabatier set (you can't buy individual replacements you know)
This was the funniest festive book that I didn't know I needed to read. It's a brilliantly plotted whodunit, completely bonkers at times and told in a light, quirky and engaging way. Jo Middleton is an author I haven't read before but I'm looking to reading more from her soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Anna wakes up Christmas Eve morning after their annual party with the worst hangover, a dead santa in her larder and what's worse is her in laws are coming to stay for Christmas. When the police arrive it's obvious that they are more interested in getting back to the station for their Christmas pies than solving the murder. So Anna and friend Jennie are left to solve the murder themselves. They get their murder boards out and work through their suspect list. Will they find our who stabbed Santa with a knife from Anna's sabatier set (you can't buy individual replacements you know)
This was the funniest festive book that I didn't know I needed to read. It's a brilliantly plotted whodunit, completely bonkers at times and told in a light, quirky and engaging way. Jo Middleton is an author I haven't read before but I'm looking to reading more from her soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Honeybee by Dawn O'Porter
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I always enjoy a book by Dawn O'Porter so I was thrilled to reveive digital copy of her latest book, Honeybee. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing an ARC.
Renee and Flo used to be best friends but have drifted apart since leaving school. At the age of 22 the two friends are brought back together at a funeral on their home island of Guernsey. Both women have their own struggles and demons to face. Can they rekindle their friendship and support each other while working out how to be an adult?
I found this to be a wonderful read, full of warmth, wit and some truly cringey moments. We hear from both Renee's and Flo's POVs who are great characters, who one moment had me laughing out loud and the next shedding a tear. This book has all the feels. I did love the side characters too, in particular Aunty Jo. It was good to read about character going through menopause, a subject I really relate to. I would love a book with Aunty Jo as the MC.
While Renee and Flo have featured in previous books, it's not necessary to read those first to enjoy this book as it totally works as a stand-alone. I would definitely recommend Honeybee if you're looking for a laugh out loud book with strong female characters.
Renee and Flo used to be best friends but have drifted apart since leaving school. At the age of 22 the two friends are brought back together at a funeral on their home island of Guernsey. Both women have their own struggles and demons to face. Can they rekindle their friendship and support each other while working out how to be an adult?
I found this to be a wonderful read, full of warmth, wit and some truly cringey moments. We hear from both Renee's and Flo's POVs who are great characters, who one moment had me laughing out loud and the next shedding a tear. This book has all the feels. I did love the side characters too, in particular Aunty Jo. It was good to read about character going through menopause, a subject I really relate to. I would love a book with Aunty Jo as the MC.
While Renee and Flo have featured in previous books, it's not necessary to read those first to enjoy this book as it totally works as a stand-alone. I would definitely recommend Honeybee if you're looking for a laugh out loud book with strong female characters.
What a Way to Go by Bella Mackie
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
4.0
It's Anthony Wistern's 60th birthday and his wife, Olivia, has thrown the most lavish birthday party to celebrate and also to show off how disgustingly rich they are. But the party ends in disaster when Anthony is found dead. Anthony is then stuck in the afterlife holding centre until he can figure out how he died. Only then will he be able to move on.
The story is told from three different POVs, the grieving widow, a true crime podcaster and the dead guy from beyond the grave. I love the authors take on the afterlife, it's both original and strangely believable in it's mundaneness.
The characters are all deeply unlikeable and as a family they are most definitely dysfunctional but Mackie writes them in such a way that you love to hate them.
This was my first time reading this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this darkly humourous and twisty thriller. This is definitely an author I will read again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC
The story is told from three different POVs, the grieving widow, a true crime podcaster and the dead guy from beyond the grave. I love the authors take on the afterlife, it's both original and strangely believable in it's mundaneness.
The characters are all deeply unlikeable and as a family they are most definitely dysfunctional but Mackie writes them in such a way that you love to hate them.
This was my first time reading this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this darkly humourous and twisty thriller. This is definitely an author I will read again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC
Isolation Island by Louise Minchin
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I love a locked room thriller and throw in a reality TV element and I'll definitely want to read it. Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy for review.
Ten celebrities are brought together for a reality TV show where they must spend two weeks on a remote Scottish Island, live like monks and try to survive. After several near misses the contestants soon realise that the production team's Health and Safety protocols are severely lacking or is there a killer in their midst?
I thought this was a solid debut novel from Louise Minchin. I found the TV element combined with the desolate setting made this a pressure cooker of a thriller. It had me gripped from beginning to end and I did not guess the outcome. I also enjoyed the cast of characters. An interesting mix of personalities to make a few sparks fly.
Overall I found this a fast paced and twisty read, full of suspense and atmosphere. I'm looking forward to reading more from Louise Minchin.
Ten celebrities are brought together for a reality TV show where they must spend two weeks on a remote Scottish Island, live like monks and try to survive. After several near misses the contestants soon realise that the production team's Health and Safety protocols are severely lacking or is there a killer in their midst?
I thought this was a solid debut novel from Louise Minchin. I found the TV element combined with the desolate setting made this a pressure cooker of a thriller. It had me gripped from beginning to end and I did not guess the outcome. I also enjoyed the cast of characters. An interesting mix of personalities to make a few sparks fly.
Overall I found this a fast paced and twisty read, full of suspense and atmosphere. I'm looking forward to reading more from Louise Minchin.