The Affair by Gill Paul

Rome, 1961. As the cameras roll on the film set of Cleopatra, the Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton love affair is about to capture the world’s attention. 

When Diana Bailey arrives on set to begin work as a historical advisor, tensions are running high. The film is in financial crisis and a media storm is brewing over the Burton-Taylor relationship. 

As Diana adjusts to her new life away from her troubled marriage, she strikes up a close friendship with Helen, a young make-up artist, and seeks solace in Ernesto, a charismatic member of the film crew. But Helen is harbouring a dark secret of her own, one that will affect Diana in more ways than she could ever imagine…

The cover of The Affair is stunning! The colours are beautiful and I could not stop staring at it. I’d never read a novel by Gill Paul before, so I didn’t have a clue what to expect, but I was very intrigued by the description on the back of the book. And after finishing the last page I honestly can’t wait to read more from her!

Set in the 1960′s in Rome, Cleopatra is being filmed and the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is about to set the world alight and grab the attention of people worldwide. But behind the scenes, there are more to the ‘backstage crew’ than meets the eye. Diana Bailey is given a job on set as a historical advisor, and when she arrives tensions are high, not only is the film having financial problems, but the relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton is causing a stir. Diana is adjusting to life away from her troubled marriage, and finds a friend in make-up artist Helen, as well as growing close to Ernesto. But Helen has a dark secret that she has been hiding, one that could affect Diana greatly if it is revealed…

I loved The Affair! I started it on a morning and I had finished the book in two sittings. I was gripped from the first page, swept up in this fantastic novel and I could not turn the pages fast enough, I was so keen and eager to read on to find out what would happen next.

The setting of the book was brilliant. I loved the setting of Rome in the 1960′s, Gill Paul brought the story to life for me and I felt as though I had been transported back in time to Italy. In my mind I could see the scenes clearly in front of me and hear the sounds of Rome around me, and it was wonderful! I spent many glorious hours lost in the story and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The filming aspect was fascinating! I’ve never actually seen the film Cleopatra, but whilst I was reading the film set jumped from the pages and seemed so realistic to me. The detail was excellent and created a lot of vivid scenes in my mind, and I was so drawn in I now want to watch the film! It was so interesting to read about what happens on film sets, and to learn about the daily workings of a film project.

I particularly liked that the main characters were the ‘backstage crew’, I was very keen to read about the jobs that the backstage crew have, and I enjoyed reading about their personal stories, as it reinforced to me that every single person has their own story, background and things that they are working through or issues they are facing, whether they are in the forefront as the main actresses or hidden behind the scenes with the other crew members.

I won’t spoil anything but Diana and Helen in particular are exceptional characters and they have some very gripping, enthralling and sometimes intense scenes. There are a few surprises and at times I wasn’t sure which way the story would go, which only fuelled my desire to read on further.

The Affair is a compelling story of love, passion, glamour and secrets, with famous actors and actresses and the stunning setting of Rome to sweep you off your feet. This is a novel that must not be missed, and is a firm favourite of mine! Wow.

The Affair is available to purchase in paperback or Ebook from Amazon UK

An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones

Wedding heaven or wedding hell?

Life simply couldn’t be better for Erin Boswell. At twenty-seven she is engaged to the simply divine Jay Keskar, and every minute of her day currently revolves around planning the wedding of her dreams. Until, that is, Jay’s parents announce that they want to ‘get involved’, and Erin’s wedding heaven turns very much into her wedding hell…

As Indian parents, Tavish and Deena have very firm beliefs about the kind of wedding their only son should have. Of course Erin will be wearing a sari! And of course all the Indian pre-wedding ritual ceremonies will be observed!

As Bollywood comes to Berkshire, can East eventually meet West in perfect harmony? And what will happen to Erin and Jay’s dream wedding if they don’t?

I have been a huge fan of Christina Jones ever since I picked up her novel Seeing Stars in the shop, and I immediately fell in love with Christina’s way with words, in fact, Seeing Stars is one of my favourite novels even now and takes pride of place on my bookshelf! So when I heard Christina was releasing a new book, I was so excited about it!

Erin is so happy, she is very much in love and engaged to the gorgeous Jay! Currently her life revolves around planning her wedding to Jay, one that she’s been dreaming about since she was younger. Life couldn’t be more perfect! Then suddenly, Kay’s parents have an announcement…they want to ‘get involved’…and so begins the start of Erin’s wedding hell. Jay’s Indian parents, Tavish and Deena, have very strong beliefs about the type of wedding that their son should have. Of course, it will all be done in tradition with Indian weddings, including Erin wearing a sari and all the pre-ritual ceremonies will be observed! Can Erin and Jay have their dream wedding?

I absolutely LOVED this book! Whilst reading this I realised how much I had missed Christina’s writing, and I’m pleased so say she has written a truly fantastic book! I couldn’t put it down, from the first page I was drawn in and hooked to the events, and I desperately wanted to read on to find out what would happen. I did take a break from the book whilst I was cooking the dinner, but in that time I had briefed my fiance on what was happening in the book, what I hoped would happen and how much I was looking forward to getting back to it!

As someone who is getting married in a few weeks, I could relate to A LOT in this book! I really felt Erin’s excitement in her wedding planning and her happiness at being engaged to a man that she truly loves. I felt as though I was experiencing similar emotions in my life, so I warmed to Erin straight away, and I really got behind her in the novel, wanting her to be so happy and have her dream wedding!

The characters were wonderfully written! There was such a mix of personalities in the novel and this made it so interesting and intriguing to read as I didn’t know which way the story was going to go, or indeed what wedding suggestions would come out next!

Christina Jones has a real talent with storytelling. Her descriptions and way with words brought the story to life. Everything jumped from the page and whilst reading I felt as though I had also been swept up in the Indian traditions and celebrations! Another thing I really loved about this book was the knowledge that Christina clearly showed with Indian culture. I learnt ever so much from reading this book about the different rituals and how different the wedding ceremonies are. It was so interesting and enlightening for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this wonderful book.

This novel sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions…at some points the writing was hilarious and I was spluttering with laughter, I even had tears rolling down my cheeks. At other times I was gushing over wedding plans with Erin, and smiling at how much i was enjoying myself.

An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding is a fantastic book that is an absolute delight to read! It is gripping and funny with plenty of romance and this story will take you on a wonderful adventure! This is a BRILLIANT novel by Christina Jones and I can’t wait to read it all over again.

An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding can be purchased in paperback or Ebook on Amazon UK

This Child Of Mine by Sinead Moriarty

Sophie and Mandy, Anna and Laura – two daughters and two mothers and a story about the bond of motherly love. 

Sophie is a happy 18-year-old living in London with Anna, her Irish mother. Anna has devoted her life to Sophie. It may be just the two of them – no father or grandparents, no uncles or aunts – but Anna has more than enough love to give. Sophie has everything she could ever need. 

Laura is a not-so-happy artist. She too has a daughter, Mandy. But Laura is haunted by the loss of her first child, Jody. Happy-go-lucky as she is, Mandy lives in Jody’s shadow and wonders why her mother can never let go. 

Both mothers carry secrets in their hearts and cannot forget the day their paths crossed. But a chance discovery is about to bring everything into the open and mothers and daughters, love and lies, past and future, will spectacularly collide…

I’ve enjoyed a few of Sinead’s previous novels, and so I was looking forward to reading this. It had been sat on my to-read pile, and I was so pleased when I was finally able to pick it up.

This book is very well written. I don’t feel I can talk about the plot line because I don’t want to give any of it away, and as you read the book you discover a bit more with each chapter, so all I can do is strongly urge anyone reading this to give This Child Of Mine a chance.

The blurb does not give much away and so I didn’t know what to expect when I opened the book, but within the first chapter I was gripped. The story is riveting, it is compelling and I literally could not put the book down. The reader is taken through a variety of issues and dilemmas within the pages and it is a very emotional story that grips your heart and pulls you in even further. Sinead writes very beautifully, tackling the issues in the book with sensitivity, and her writing style draws the reader in and absorbs them into the tale.

The characters were very well written and developed. The chapters are written from the different characters perspectives and this works well as it gives different angles and opinions to the story. As a reader we begin to learn more about the characters, what motivates them, what their thoughts and feelings are, and Sinead allows us to understand them on many levels.

This is an emotional story, it is very well-written, it is moving, and fans of Sinead will enjoy this one.

This Child Of Mine can be purchased in paperback or Ebook on Amazon UK

Learn Love In A Week by Andrew Clover

After ten years of marriage, Polly and Arthur are at crisis point. 

Polly

“My husband is the IKEA wardrobe of husbands. He looks good in the pictures, but if you ask him to hold anything, his back pops out.”

Arthur

“I have the libido of the Giant Panda. I know what sex leads to. It leads to a small person who likes to post toast in the DVD player.” 

Can they learn to love again? And if they can, will they still choose each other?

Polly and Arthur have been married for ten years and seem to be at a crisis point when Polly meets James Hammond. He’s the one who got away, and he’s now rich and successful. Most of all, he wants her. But what about Andrew and Polly? Can they learn to love again?

I liked Learn Love In A Week. I enjoyed reading it over a few days, I found I could pick it up and put it down as I wanted, but I looked forward to the moments that I went back to the novel.

Told over the course of one week, Learn Love In A Week is written from different perspectives, including both Polly and Arthur’s. Andrew Clover has done very well with this, and he manages to effortlessly slip from one characters viewpoint to anothers. The characters are well-written, I felt I knew a lot about each individual from their own parts. Arthur in particular was a great character, his personality, thoughts and feelings came across straight away and I felt as though I’d known him for a long time.

Learn Love In A Week was very funny. The comedy is very well written, it was written in a away where it suddenly just hit me and I burst into laughter, prompting some very strange looks. I think it’s probably more relateable from a readers point if the reader has been married or in a long-term relationship, but regardless it can still be enjoyed by many.

It is not just the humour that makes this novel great, but there is a compelling plotline, and underlying messages of what is really important in life.I’m looking forward to reading more from Andrew Clover.

Learn Love in A Week can be purchased in paperback or Ebook on Amazon UK

Wish You Were Here by Victoria Connelly

Sun, sea and secrets…

Have you ever wanted to escape your humdrum life?

A week on the sunny Greek island of Kethos is just what Alice Archer needs, even if she has to put up with her difficult sister. Stella’s tantrums and diva-like demands are a fair price to pay for crystal-clear waters, blue skies and white clifftop villas.

When Alice meets Milo, a handsome gardener at the Villa Argenti, she suddenly feels beautiful, alluring and confident for the first time. But is it just holiday magic or will the irresistible pull between Alice and Milo survive against all odds?

I’ve been a huge fan of Victoria Connelly and her novels for some time now, so I was really looking forward to Wish You Were Here!

The cover in particular is stunning, and as soon as I saw it I immediately started longing for a holiday somewhere in the sun, with a beautiful view of the sea in front of me. As the cover had put me in a holiday mood, I was keen to get started!

When Alice Archer is given the opportunity to go on holiday to the Greek island of Kethos, she decides that a week in the sunshine is definitely what she needs! The only downside is that she will have to put up with her sister Stella’s attitude and tantrums, but it is worth it to go on a lovely holiday with crystal-clear sea and blue skies. On holiday, Alice meets Milo, a very handsome gardener, and something inside her awakens, for the first time Alice feels beautiful, confident and happy in herself. But is it just holiday feelings or perhaps something more?

I really loved Wish You Were Here! I had a feeling I would like it because I’ve always enjoyed Victoria’s other novels, but I was really swept up in this story and I genuinely think it might be my favourite of hers so far!

The setting of Kethos was delightful! Everything was described so beautifully that I was caught up in the words and completely lost myself in the story, dreaming of being on this truly stunning island. Victoria has a real talent with settings, and she brought the island of Kethos to life for me. I could picture every scene clearly in my mind, I could almost feel myself walking along the streets, looking at the views and hearing the sounds around me. After finishing this wonderful book I really want to fly away for a holiday!

Alice and Milo were fantastic characters. I warmed to Alice straight away, she is so easy to like and as a reader I genuinely wanted everything to go right for her, so I was really rooting for her throughout the book. I think there will be more than a few readers out there who will fall in love with the gorgeous Milo! I particularly enjoyed Milo’s parts in the story, and I enjoyed learning more of his background story, reading about what makes him him and his interests in life.

I don’t want to spoil anything but Wish You Were Here is such a fun read! This book cheered me up and had me smiling, and I was so pleased to have read it. Wish You Were Here is the PERFECT summer read, so take it on holiday, to the beach, read it in the garden, and just relax with this fantastic novel. I would thoroughly recommend this.

Wish You Were Here is available to purchase in paperback or Ebook on Amazon UK

Showcase Sunday #18

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.

Hello everyone! How are you all? I hope you have all had a lovely week On Friday, me and Stephen went to the church to meet with the Vicar, and went through the wedding ceremony We both came away feeling a lot more positive and confident about the ceremony because now we know what we are doing and when! We’ve been very busy this week so looking forward to having a relax this afternoon, and doing some reading

In my post this week:

1. Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop Of Dreams by Jenny Colgan – Goodreads / Amazon (Purchased)
2. Uncoupled by Lizzie Enfield - Goodreads / Amazon (Purchased)
3. In Her Shadow by Louise Douglas – Goodreads / Amazon (To be reviewed)
4. Hubble Bubble by Jane Lovering – Goodreads / Amazon (To be reviewed)

I was really excited to receive In Her Shadow by Louise Douglas this week. I’ve heard a lot of great things about her novels and this one sounds fascinating so I’m looking forward to starting it. I also love the sound of Hubble Bubble, I’m a big fan of stories with a magic element to them.

So….Over to you all! What did you buy or download this week? Did you borrow any books from friends or the library? Any review books come your way? Let me know in the comments section I’d love to hear about what you’re reading 

Megan xxxxxxxxxx

Home Front Girls by Rosie Goodwin

Coventry, 1939.

Dotty prepares for her first day at work in the city’s most magnificent department store. She’s terrified, as she hasn’t known a life outside of the orphanage where she grew up. 

Lucy is the sole carer of her little sister and head of the home now that her brother has been called up to the fight. She too has found work at Owen Owen as a means to support her family. 

Annabelle has led a life of privilege and luxury. But with war imminent, everyone has to pinch the pennies at the moment. The well-off’s are no exception, much to Annabelle’s annoyance. As the trials and devastating effects of war come to bear on the three women, their bond deepens. With disaster at every turn, they’re going to need each other. 

The cover of Home Front Girls is stunning, the three ladies walking together caught my eye straight away and the title really intrigued me, so I was very keen to get started.

Home Front Girls tells the story of three girls brought together during the war. Dotty hasn’t known a life outside of the orphanage she grew up in, while Lucy is the head of her house after her brother is called to fight in the war, leaving Lucy not only to take care of her younger sister but to support the family financially too. In contrast,  Annabelle has lead a much more privileged life than Dotty or Lucy. But with the war coming, these three girls find themselves starting work at a department store, Owen Owen, and learning just how valuable support and friendship is in times of war.

I thouroughly enjoyed Home Front Girls! I started this on a morning and I was instantly taken in by the three girls and their situations. I became so involved in their stories and what they were going through that I raced through the book because I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next to the girls, what information would be discovered and what choices they would make.

The three girls were so very well-written, even though they each had different personalities it was easy to get to know them, and in only a short time I felt as though I had known these girls for my whole life. They were so realistic, their situations were real and the setting was so life-like that at times I felt as though I had been transported back in time and was standing in Owen Owen with them watching the scenes involved in front of me. I didn’t have a favourite out of the three girls as I liked each character fir different reasons. I particularly liked learning about their background stories, their fears, their hopes, and the men they spoke about who were away with the war.

My favourite part about Home Front Girls was the friendship between Dotty, Lucy and Annabelle. I liked that at first they were strangers to each other, but as they each started their jobs and the war grew closer, that they turned to each other for support, friendship and company. I enjoyed reading about their time together and watching the bond between them grow and strengthen as time went on. I loved that they looked out for each other, that they were strong for each other and that they went ahead in life together and united.

The descriptions and the setting were outstanding. Rosie Goodwin really brought to life the reality of living through war and how it affected not only the physical surroundings but the lives of the people living there too. The scenes about what was happening in Coventry were very emotional and heart-breaking, and I really felt for the characters in the book, I wanted to reach out to them all. As I became more emotionally involved in the scenes I had a stringer desire to read on as I genuinely cared about the characters and I wanted to know what would happen to them.

Home Front Girls is a gripping, moving and emotional story of war and the devastating effects it has on a community and the real people that had to face life and do their best to get through it together. It is compelling to read as the story explores war, love, family, secrets, tragedy, hopes and fears. But in particular, Home Front Girls focuses on three girls who form an unlikely friendship and the incredible bond between them.

Home Front Girls can be purchased in hardback or Ebook on Amazon UK

Blog Tour: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher – Exclusive content and review

I’m ever so excited to be part of the Billy and Me blog tour for this amazing book by the lovely Giovanna Fletcher! Please make sure you follow all the stops of the tour, as there are lots of exciting things to come – in my sidebar on the right is the Billy and Me banner which tells you where the blog tour will be heading after this, and the blogs it has already stopped at, so please check them out!

Anyway, read on for some EXCLUSIVE content and my review!

Exclusive Content – Giovanna tells us about Sophie’s Dream Man

At the start of the novel Sophie isn’t looking for a man, not really. She’s so consumed with her life in Rosefont Hill that bagging herself a boyfriend isn’t top of her priorities.

If you put Sophie on the spot and asked her who her dream man was she’d probably get ridiculously embarrassed and shrug off the question. But this is more to do with a deep routed fear of the unknown and of not believing she’s good enough to be loved.

She does have a huge crush on Jude Law and has an obsession with his film The Holiday . Plus, her nose is continuously buried in a book if she’d not at work, and all her favourites (mostly the classics) are filled with buckets of romance with girls being swept off their feet after huge obstacles have eventually been overcome. This little fact tells us that she’s just like most other girls at her age – longing for her Mr Right.

He would be tall, not so tall that she had to crane her neck to kiss him, but tall enough for her to nuzzle into his strong chest as he hugged her. He’d make her feel safe, make her laugh and understand her without having to question her on her past. He’d just accept her as she was. Not only would he love her completely, he’d also make her mum laugh and flirt a bit with Molly – she’d love that.

Appearance wouldn’t be overly important, but if he looked like Jude she wouldn’t complain.

Cupcake

Giovanna asked the blog tour hosts what they felt when they looked at the front cover for Billy and Me, and drew everyone a cupcake based on their responses. My answer was ‘romantic and homely’ and this is the beautiful cupcake I was drawn!

My Review of Billy and Me

Sophie May has a secret.

One that she’s successfully kept for years. It’s meant that she’s had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.

But then she meets the gorgeous Billy – an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy’s glamorous - but ruthless – world. 

Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation? 

I have been so excited about Billy and Me ever since I first heard about it. And when I was asked to be part of the blog tour I literally jumped up and down, I also may have screamed a little from happiness!

Sophie May lives in her little village. Rather than travelling the world or setting off to university excitedly with friends, Sophie has instead stayed in the village of Rosefont Hill, living with her mum and spending her days working at the local teashop. The main reason for this is that Sophie May has a secret she’s been keeping. One day she meets the handsome Billy Buskin – an actor with high ambitions in his life, and as they fall in love, Sophie is pulled away from her village life and thrust into the spotlight. As Sophie is brought into Billy’s world – one which is different from her own – can she handle the attention that having such a public life brings?

I LOVED Billy and Me! As soon as I sat down to read it I was instantly drawn into the book and I couldn’t put it down! The story flows so easily, and before I knew it I had finished the last page.

The characters are wonderfully written! Giovanna has put so much effort, love and care into her characters and it shows. Every single character seemed so realistic to me, they all sprang to life and I genuinely felt as though I had been transported to Rosefont Hill and was watching all the characters right in front of me.

Molly was my favourite! Molly was so kind, caring and I felt so much warmth radiating from her! She is the definition of ‘homely’, I felt so at home when she was around and in a strange way she brought happiness and comfort to me. I would LOVE to sit in her teashop, I’d probably spend all my time in there drinking tea, sampling the gorgeous cakes and having a chat with the other lovely local people!

The relationship between Billy and Sophie was beautiful, I could feel the romance and the feelings between them, and I was gushing over their love as I read. I’m certain that like me, many others will fall deeply in love with Billy! He is not only handsome, but he is romantic and thoughtful – Sophie May is a very lucky girl!

One thing I really liked about Billy and Me was the focus on what dating someone in the spotlight is like. I know that many of us would love to date someone famous, but would we really be able to handle it? Would we know what to do or how to act? As Giovanna has some experience in this, I found this part of the story so intriguing and interesting. I also felt for Sophie, I realised how hard it must be to adjust to such a life, and I feel I connected with Sophie as I really rooted for her during the hard times.

Billy and Me is stunning. I loved every second I spent absorbed in this wonderful story. Billy and Me is a delightful novel full of romance, friendship, love and tears. I laughed whilst reading this, and I must admit there were a few moments where I cried too. And not just crying…I really wept, Giovanna’s writing provoked so much emotion in me that I was a mixture of tears and tissues! Giovanna Fletcher has created a very impressive first novel, and personally I cannot wait for her future releases! This is THE BOOK to read this summer!

Billy and Me can be purchased in Paperback or Ebook on Amazon UK

Claim Me by J. Kenner

For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.

Damien Stark’s need is palpable – his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.

I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.

But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. Our troubled pasts will either bind us close…or shatter us completely.

I really enjoyed J. Kenner’s first book in the Stark Trilogy, Release Me (the review can be found here), and so I was thrilled when the second installment came out!

Claim Me continues on from Release Me, and we follow Damien and Nikki in their relationship that continues growing and becoming more intense. But there are secrets that threaten to be exposed, with the potential to damage their relationship. But what will happen if these secrets come to light?

I thoroughly enjoyed Claim Me! I read the entire book in one sitting, I was drawn in to the story straight away and I happily spent an afternoon engrossed in the world of Damien and Nikki. The romance between them is fantastically written,J. Kenner has a real talent with words and expressing the emotions of love.  I could feel the chemistry between Damien and Nikki and it was so powerful that my heart raced along with Nikki’s.

I liked Damien and Nikki in the first book, but in this novel, I fell even more in love with them. I really loved the relationship they have with each other. One of my favourite things was reading about and seeing the relationship and bond between them grow and become stronger. As readers we gain a lot more background information to Nikki and Damien. I was able to learn more about Damien, his childhood and how that has affected him, as well as the things that have made him who he is today. Nikki as well opened up a bit more and so whilst reading I felt as though I knew her more as a friend. I was glad that these parts were explored as I connected with the characters more and so threw myself into what was happening.

Claim Me is just as sizzling and steamy as the first novel. There are plenty of sensual scenes to delve into and unravel, and if you’re like me, you’ll fall even deeper in love with Damien! But as with all of J. Kenner’s work, there is SO much more than that! There is a dark and gripping story line running alongside this which covers betrayal, secrets, family, fame and fortune, and will have you turning the pages in a frenzy to discover the next part.

I won’t spoil it but I am certain you will too be captured by this fantastic plot line with lots of passion, steamy sex scenes and emotions mixed in with a compelling tale of secrets and hidden pasts. Claim Me is another outstanding book from J. Kenner, it is explosive, sexy and it will leave you breathless. I am so excited to continue the journey when the last part of the Stark trilogy is released!

Claim Me Can be bought in Paperback or in Ebook on Amazon UK

Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie

It’s been eight years since Geniver Loxley lost her daughter, Beth.

Since that day, Gen has been floundering. While her husband Art builds his business reputation and their fortune, she can’t let go of Beth.

And then one day, everything changes. A strange woman shows up on Gen’s doorstep, saying the very thing she longs to hear: that Beth is alive. That she is out there somewhere, waiting for Gen to find her…

It is insane. Unthinkable. But why would someone make up such a story? Ignoring the warnings of her husband and friends, Gen begins to hope – hope that quickly turns into fear and paranoia. 

With questions swirling around her head, Gen is determined to uncover the truth. But who can she trust? Why is Art so reluctant to get involved? To save his wife from further hurt? Or something much more sinister? Is Beth even really out there? And, if so, who is responsible for taking her? 

What is the truth about Beth Loxley?

Firstly I’d like to say that the cover is very striking, I could not take my eyes off of it when a copy of the book arrived through my door. The blurb in particular was very intriguing, and as soon as I had finished reading the description I sat down to start on the book.

Geniver Loxely has been left devastated by the loss of her daughter, and every day since, all she has thought about is Beth. Gen is married to her husband Art, who is very business-orientated and has a successful company, Loxley Benson. Art is also very driven and determined both in business and in life. Gen had a few novels published, and enjoyed writing, but has found it difficult to put her thoughts into words ever since Beth.

One day whilst Art is away on a business trip, there is a knock at the door. Standing in front of Gen is a woman she doesn’t know, who says she has come with some important news and information. She tells Gen that Beth is actually alive, living and breathing, and out there somewhere… But surely this can’t be true? She was sure that she’d lost Beth? Is she really out there? And if so, who has her? And who can Gen really trust?

Wow. One huge wow! I have not stopped thinking about this story ever since I turned the last page! I absolutely loved this book, I was gripped from the first page and I was racing through the book because I was so eager to see where it would take me and what would happen next. I was even sat up in bed at night reading…though in hindsight that wasn’t the best idea because some parts of the book are actually quite creepy, and so that night I was constantly looking over my shoulder!

Sophie McKenzie has done a brilliant job of making you think as you read this. Throughout the book my head was constantly buzzing with questions. Was Beth really alive? If so, where had she been all these years? And who has her? Is the stranger at the door really telling the truth? Can we actually trust anybody? I was desperate to find out!

I really love a good mystery and thriller, and like many others, I really enjoy trying to pick up clues along the way and guess what is happening. At many times throughout the book I thought I’d guessed it right, only for a complete shocker to land on the page and throw all my ideas up into the air again, by the end of it I was suspicious of so many people and I still didn’t get it right! The twists and turns in this book are SO impressive, it took my breath away.

The characters were fantastically written. They all had their own background stories and were actually very complex. I loved Gen straight away, as it is told from her perspective I warmed to her from the first page. I really felt for her for what she had been through with Beth, and I desperately wanted her to discover the truth. As a reader, we learn about and unravel the situations at the same time as Gen does, and my heart was pounding as I read on, I was so scared for Gen but at the same time I was willing her on because I wanted to know the truth about Beth as much as she did.

My favourite part though was that when I reached the end, I thought I had been truly shocked by the result. But nothing prepared me for the final bit that the book threw at me, to say it was chilling is an understatement! The book was brilliant but the last parts of the book where everything picks up pace was absolutely outstanding. I really cannot recommend this book enough!

Close My Eyes is powerful, it is intense and it is so frightening that it is brilliant. This is a seriously chilling read that will have you turning the pages and staying up late at night to read more! With an incredible plot line and lots of tension, this is THE book to read this summer!

Close My Eyes can be purchased in paperback or Ebook at Amazon UK