Tag: books

ARC Review: The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

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The BreakdownThe Breakdown by B.A. Paris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unputdownable. I can’t remember the last time I read a book this quickly.

Fast paced and gripping, once I started reading I couldn’t stop. I will admit to a little bit of frustration with the main character and having a fair idea how it would all end but I really enjoyed it and got completely swept up in the story.

Synopsis

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside―the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.

But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…

Review

This was actually my first book by this author but I don’t think it’ll be my last. I’d heard a lot of good things about her previous book, Behind Closed Doors, but I hadn’t yet managed to get around to reading it (so many books so little time). I have to say despite some wariness due to the level of hype around it this didn’t disappoint. I wouldn’t rate it as an all time favourite, or even a particularly stand out read but it’s fast paced, exciting and addictive reading.

The story which centers primarily around someone seemingly losing their mind is fascinating to read and as it’s all told from their pov you can feel their frustration and confusion. While this was the highlight of the story however, it was also it’s biggest flaw for me. I hate to say it but I just really didn’t like main character Cass. Not that there was anything particularly bad about her, she was just a bit wet. She’s so passive and emotional in the story I ended up getting very frustrated with her. If I could have reached into the pages, given her a shake and told her to get a grip I would have. I felt like she over reacted a lot of the time and didn’t really take any action or make decisions. I wanted to see her stand up for herself and take control, although I suspect there wouldn’t have been much of a story if she had.

With the focus very much on Cass and her downward spiral, there aren’t many secondary characters which for me (with the memory of a goldfish) is a good thing. New husband Mathew, and best friend Rachel are probably the only ones who have a substantial part to play and even at that they’re viewed through Cass’s eyes so it’s difficult to work out their true motivations and character. Something which works very well in keeping you guessing.

Despite a few niggles therefore, I did really enjoy the story. I flew through the whole thing in a few hours desperate to know whether Cass was losing her mind or if the murderer was out to get her.

The writing and pacing is pretty much spot on and the author does know how to create tension and a truly gripping story. I did think the ending was a little too quick and easy but there was a little surprise that I wasn’t expecting.

Overall a good read and definitely a book I’d recommend if you like a fast paced thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own. The Breakdown is due for release on 9th February in the UK

WWW Wednesday: 1st February 2017

Ali@abookishlife21 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Here’s this weeks WWW.

Currently Reading

The BreakdownI’m having to write this post on a Sunday at my parents house as my internet is down at home so I’m not 100% sure what I’ll be reading by the time this is published but I’m going to assume it’s The Breakdown by B.A. Paris. I received this from NetGalley and have been really looking forward to it but haven’t had a chance to start it yet. I have to confess I haven’t read the author’s previous book, Behind Closed Doors, but it got some fantastic reviews so I have high hopes.

I’m still working my way through the audiobook of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Not as much progress as I’d hoped as I’ve not been doing much driving (which is when I usually listen) but still enjoying revisiting this story.

Recently Finished

Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2)The first book finished this week was Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton which I received from NetGalley. It’s the sequel to Rebel of the Sands, which I read and really enjoyed last year, and I think may actually be better.

It is a lot lighter on the romance aspect and there is less of the desert (which was a little disappointing) but it’s more than made up for by a story which seems to have a lot more direction and purpose.  It’s absolutely packed with action but what I really loved was the intrigue. There are a lot of twists and turns and more than one surprise. I also loved the way the author did on occasion take a step out of the story and change the narrative to read more like a myth or legend. I’m hoping to get a full review up soon (internet permitting).

Caraval (Caraval, #1)The next book finished this week was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I usually try to rotate genres but when I received this in my book subscription box I couldn’t resist starting almost immediately. The hardback is just sooo pretty.

Caraval was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it didn’t disappoint.There were a few niggles with certain aspects but the story is brilliant. It’s absolutely packed full of magic and mystery and genuinely keeps you guessing about what’s real and what’s not from the beginning to the very end. Definitely worth a read.

Reading Next

Given my wandering off course at the weekend my reading next list is largely the same as last week with NetGalley ARCs Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse, The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion and The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams at the top of the list. All very different so it’ll probably depend what I’m in the mood for.

SweetpeaThe Best of Adam SharpThe Ninth Rain (The Winnowing Flame Trilogy, #1)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Teaser Tuesday: 31st January 2017

Ali@abookishlife13 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton which I received from NetGalley. It’s the sequel to Rebel of the Sands which I read last year and enjoyed but didn’t love. This however, I did love. It’s full of magic and adventure, legends and myths and has some of the best world building I’ve come across. There’s also quite a bit of intrigue and betrayal and quite a few surprises.

Warning: As this is a sequel there are spoilers in the blurb for the first book (the teaser is spoiler free)

My Teaser

And just like that, everyone was looking at me. If I’d known I was doomed to get this much attention I might’ve brushed my hair.

~ 85% Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

BlurbTraitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2)

This is not about blood or love. This is about treason.

Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince’s message has spread across the desert – and some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruellest manner possible.

Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl’s instinct for survival. For the Sultan’s palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper’s nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive… But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani’s past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.

Happy Reading Everyone

Review: Behind her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

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Behind Her EyesBehind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Sarah Pinborough but I don’t think it’ll be my last.

I can be a bit hit or miss with psychological thrillers but this one had me hooked from the very first page until the very end.

It’s not a fast paced read (and there’s not a huge amount of action) but it’s an intriguing and twisty story with a main character I actually kind of liked, something which is too rare at the moment in this type of book.Read More »

WWW Wednesday: 25th January 2017

Ali@abookishlife32 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Here’s this weeks WWW.

Currently ReadingTraitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2)

I started reading Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton at the weekend. It’s the sequel to Rebel of the Sands which I read and really enjoyed last year. I was very lucky to have my wish for it granted on NetGalley (I’ve never had a wish granted before) so I couldn’t resist starting immediately. I currently around halfway through and I think it may actually be better than the first book. Loving it.

I’ve also started listening to the audiobook of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I had forgotten just how much I loved the original books so I’m enjoying working my way through them again. I have to admit however there are times when I want to speed it along a bit to get to the good bits 🙂

Recently FinishedBehind Her Eyes

The first book finished this week was Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. This was a thriller I received from NetGalley about the relationship between seemingly perfect couple, David and Adele, and single mum Louise who gets caught in the middle of it.

It’s a twisty tale that keeps you guessing more or less to the very end and, while I wasn’t sure about a certain plot element that I can’t go into (spoilers), once I got into it I found it very addictive reading. I also liked some of the characters, something which is rare for me in a thriller.

New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love, #4)The second book finished this week was New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan (it seems like there are Sarah’s everywhere at the moment) which I also received from NetGalley. I love Sarah Morgan books, they’re just so funny, romantic and kind of hot and it was just the type of read I was in need of.

This is the fourth book in her From Manhattan with Love series but it can be easily read as a standalone. The story follows Molly, a blogger and writer who gives relationship advice despite her most meaningful relationship being with her dog Valentine, and Daniel, a divorce lawyer who isn’t looking for a serious relationship. They meet when he borrows a dog to try and catch her attention in the park and sparks fly.

It’s a common storyline but Sarah Morgan does it so well and there are a few surprises and laughs in there. I read the whole thing from cover to cover on Saturday. It’s like settling down to watch your favorite rom-com.

Reading Next

Sooo, I may have gone a little bit nuts on NetGalley recently (when I’m stressed I request) but there are just so many good books coming out soon. I still don’t think I’m going to have a lot of reading time over the next week but I do want to try and make a dent in my shelf. After my current read I think I’m therefore going to pick up The Breakdown by B.A. Paris (I like to switch between genres so it’s time for another thriller).

 In the unlikely event I get that finished I’m going to try and make a start on either Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse, The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion or The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams.

The BreakdownSweetpeaThe Best of Adam SharpThe Ninth Rain (The Winnowing Flame Trilogy, #1)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

ARC Review: New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

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New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love, #4)New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I always look forward to Sarah Morgan’s next book and this one, the fourth in her From Manhattan with Love series, didn’t disappoint.

It’s funny, romantic and kinda hot. There are some definite sparks in this contemporary romance and I’m loving the New York setting. Perfect for a lazy day spent reading.

The Blurb (from GoodReads)

Meet Molly

New York’s most famous agony aunt, she considers herself an expert at relationships…as long as they’re other people’s. The only love of her life is her Dalmatian, Valentine.

Meet Daniel

A cynical divorce lawyer, he’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea. If you don’t get involved, no-one can get hurt. But then he finds himself borrowing a dog to meet the gorgeous woman he sees running in Central Park every morning…

Molly and Daniel think they know everything there is to know about relationships…until they meet each other that is…

Thoughts

It’s not the most original of stories, man pretends to be something he’s not to catch the eye of someone he fancies, but Morgan does it so well. It’s an addictive and fun read that I read from cover to cover in the space of a day. Molly is a very likeable character and, while she has a troubled past she was trying to get away from, it wasn’t at all what I thought it would be and definitely brought a unique twist. I loved how she was both vulnerable and also quite fiery. She doesn’t take any nonsense and is very able for the supremely charming and persuasive Daniel.

Daniel, well he’s determined to get what he wants and will go to any lengths to get it (even if it means borrowing a dog and pretending to be a dog person) but you can’t help but like him. He also hasn’t had the best past and despite the charm and the polish there’s a very kind and caring man underneath it all.

The relationship between the two is brilliant. Morgan knows how to create some real chemistry between her characters and there were some definite sparks. There’s a lot of banter and teasing (and one hilarious moment of revenge) but there are a lot of quite sweet moments too. They were definitely a couple I was rooting for.

The supporting characters were well developed and I loved how heavily the dogs Valentine and Brutus featured although I do now want a dog. This book did introduce a few new characters who weren’t in the original trilogy and for me they were welcome additions.

Overall a great story that I’d recommend to any one looking for a fun and romantic read with a few surprises along the way. I should also add that while it is the fourth in the series it could quite easily be read as a standalone as there isn’t too much of an overlap with previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC. All views are my own.

Teaser Tuesday: 24th January 2017

Ali@abookishlife12 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. It’s a thriller I received from NetGalley about a woman, Louise, who gets drawn into the complicated, and slightly unsettling, marriage of David and Adele. I finished this book at the weekend and while I had a small issue over an element of the plot I really enjoyed it. It’s one of those rare creatures, a psychological thriller with a MC you kind of like.

My Teaser

To trust the truth of a thing, you have to suffer the thing. You have to get mud on your hands and dirt under your fingernails. You have to dig for it.

~ 73% Behind her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

BlurbBehind Her Eyes

Don’t trust this book. Don’t trust this story. Don’t trust yourself.

‘Sarah Pinborough is about to become your new obsession’ Harlan Coben

David and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He’s a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?

As Louise, David’s new secretary, is drawn into their world, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong – and how far someone might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

‘The most unsettling thriller of the year… Read it now before someone spoils the end for you’ John Connolly

Happy Reading Everyone

To finish or not to finish?

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That is the question, or today’s at any rate

Reading various blogs and reviews over the last few weeks I’ve noticed that a lot of readers, if they’re really not enjoying a book, will stop reading and move on to something better. Some even go so far as to have a DNF (did not finish) policy whereby they give every book they read a certain number of pages (or a percentage) to grab them and if it doesn’t they give up and move to the next book.

Up until now I’ve been making an effort to read every book I start to the end, even if I’m not enjoying it (and there have been some truly awful books in there), but I’m starting to wonder if I should change my approach. Read More »

WWW Wednesday: 18th January 2017

Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

WWW Wednesday

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Here’s this weeks WWW.

Currently Reading

Behind Her EyesI’m in a bit of a guddle (Scottish word for mess) with my reading at the moment as I’ve kind of started two separate books but haven’t made a lot of progress as I can’t seem to focus on either of them through no fault of their own.

The first of these books is Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough which is a thriller I received from NetGalley. I tried to start this on Friday but my mind kept wandering and I just couldn’t take anything in. Hopefully by the time this post is published (I’m writing this on Sunday) I will have gotten into it as it gets some great reviews.

The second book started and not The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game, #1)progressed very far is The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye. This is a book I borrowed from the library via Overdrive so I am unfortunately on a deadline to read it as it will return itself in about 9 days. It doesn’t help that I can’t get the Overdrive app to work on my phone or tablet at the moment so I’m having to read on my laptop which limits how much reading I can actually manage (my laptop isn’t that portable).

I have however managed to read a few chapters and discovered it’s based in Russia in the 1800’s which came as a bit of a shock (I really should read blurbs more carefully). I seem to be coming across a lot of Russian history books at the moment. Is anyone else finding this?

Recently Finished

It’s been a bit of a rough week for me so not much progress this week. I’ve been working crazy hours, it snowed, and my cat decided that this was the perfect time to get in a fight with one of the other cats in the neighborhood resulting in a trip to the vet and a course of painkillers and antibiotics. He’s been less than impressed with having to stay indoors for a few days and has been showing his displeasure by miaowing loudly and often (including through the night) and peeing on everything. Basically I seem to be permanently exhausted at the moment.A Quiet Kind of Thunder

Anyway, despite these distractions I did manage to finish A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard which I had received from NetGalley and was around halfway through last week. It’s about a girl who has been selectively mute for most of her life but is trying to find her voice and prove to her parents that she will be able to go to University and follow her dream.

I think the fact that I managed to finish this and really enjoyed it despite everything going on probably says the most about this book. I always think if you’re stressed and tired but can still focus on a book and get completely immersed in the story it’s good. It’s actually a very sweet read that left me with a huge big smile on my face. There is a bit of romance but it’s more a coming of age story.

As I ended up doing a bit more driving than usual this week I also managed to finish my audio book  The Hunger Games. Despite initial reservations about the narrator I’ve loved re discovering this book and all of the little differences from the film. Despite knowing the story I still cried at a certain point and I’m tempted to carry on through the series (although I still hate the narrator’s Peeta).

Reading Next

I think I will probably be doing well if I manage to finish my current reads but if I do I think my next read will probably be The Breakdown by B.A. Paris although I’m not sure if I’m in the mood for a thriller. I think I may need something a little bit lighter. I do have a couple of CoHo’s so maybe Confess or November 9

The BreakdownNovember 9Confess

Hmm. Have just realised these all have very similar covers 🙂 Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can. Unfortunately I’m still working a lot of hours at the moment so apologies in advance if I’m a little slow in replying and visiting everyone else’s posts.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Teaser Tuesday: 17th January 2017

Ali@abookishlife5 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.


This week my teaser comes from A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this from the publishers via NetGalley. It’s a brilliant book about a girl who suffers from anxiety so severely that she finds it difficult to speak and then she meets a deaf boy and starts to find her voice. It’s a very sweet story and despite the blurb is not a romance cures all story. There is a very cute romance in it but it’s really a coming of age story and paints a very real picture of life with an anxiety disorder.

My Teaser

My heart stills. That’s what it feels like – not a thundering panic or a twist of pain; it goes quiet, like it’s bracing itself. I can feel something building in my head.

~ 36%, A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

BlurbA Quiet Kind of Thunder

Steffi doesn’t talk, but she has so much to say.
Rhys can’t hear, but he can listen.
Their love isn’t a lightning strike, it’s the rumbling roll of thunder.

Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life – she’s been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He’s deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she’s assigned to look after him. To Rhys, it doesn’t matter that Steffi doesn’t talk, and as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice, and that she’s falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it.

From the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things comes a love story about the times when a whisper is as good as a shout.

Happy Reading Everyone