A Mother's Struggle by Kitty Neale

Time taken to read - < 1 day
Pages - 378
Publisher - Avon books
Source - RAK/fairy
Blurb from Goodreads
When Pearl's ex-husband Kevin was sent to prison she left her old life in Battersea behind, determined to protect her son from the truth about his father. But when her dear friend Bessie dies, she is forced to return to the one place she'd rather forget.

While Pearl makes plans to take over Bessie's shop, Kevin is released from jail and begins to swindle his parents for money. Once he gets what he wants, he'll soon be after his child.

Pearl will do whatever it takes to keep her boy out of his father's reach - but will it be enough?

My Review

We have read a fair few of Neale's books so I could have sworn I recognised the characters and maybe they do pop up in the other books as passing characters. I checked and according to Fantasticfiction it is a standalone and previously published under another name. Anyways, Pearl left Battersea after things had gone wrong for her and it is a small town and scandal tends to follow you forever, noone forgets. When circumstances mean Pearl, her husband and kid have to go back she knows she can't keep the past from her child, much as she wants to protect him. Especially when his biological father, Kevin, a wrong yin, is getting out of jail and towns folk gossip. Kevin protrays himself as a man of God now, changed and willing to mend his ways but not only has Kevin not changed but he has plans that will forever change all of their lives.

Ooooh guys, the things with these books are we get characters who, love or hate them, you can't stop reading. Kevin's mum has issues with her mental health and she is also quite a devious woman whose no.1 priority is her angel of a son. The things that she will say and do is nothing short of wicked and she isn't the only one who is shady. We also meet some violent men who have money, muscle, weapons and will do what they need to to protect what they feel is theirs.

Violence, death, threats, secrets, lies, poisoned tongued people ooft it is a mixed bag or questionable morals, aggression and choices that affect not just the people making them. We also see the good side of people and I think that is why it is so easy to loose yourself in this type of book. You have the mundane every day issues/things/small town setting/gossip but then the darker side, manipulation, threats, aggression, violence etc. We have read a few of Neale's and have some more on our TBRM and will eventually get the whole back catalogue, 4/5 for us this time..

End Of Story by Louise Swanson

End of Story by Louise Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 320

Publisher - Hodder Books

Source - Netgalley & bought a treebook copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Once upon a time, there was a writer named Fern.

She was a bestseller. An award-winner. Loved by readers and critics alike. With her words, she changed the world.

Until her story took a turn.

Now Fern is a cleaner in a hospital. Condemned to anonymity. Because reading books is now a crime.

Only, Fern doesn't plan on going down without a fight. She'll keep writing, no matter the consequences. She will make her voice heard.

Because Fern's story is only beginning.

But can you guess how it will end?


My Review

Imagine a world where fiction is banned, authors have had their books/awards removed from them, gains from said books taken, the government isn't here to play. Meet Fern, Fern had only just really got into her stride as an author, published books, best sellers, events, signings, money rolling in, everything was looking up especially after everything she had been through. Now present day she is merely existing, doing a job she hates, not allowed contact with any other fiction writers, living in a home that gets period checks to make sure she is behaving and not writing. Fern isn't ready to give up and slowly finds herself rebelling.

What a wild ride and I wasn't sure what all was going on or where it was going which kept me on edge. Fern works as a cleaner at a hospital, had an aversion to the smell of milk and tries to stay off the radar. Whilst working she hears some really shady stuff, stuff similar to the out there fiction she created and the people from the government become increasingly more threatening and intrusive to her life/space.

I think whilst the initial idea you would be like oh that would never happen, recent years I think has showed us just how insane the world can get/be at times. Government included. The story is told with Fern writing diary entries so we get the chat directly from her as she tries to process her feelings and thoughts as she goes.

I really liked the tea guy, he isn't a huge character by any means but seems a tiny glimpse of normality, almost a lifeline for Fern as she is so lonely and untrusting of everyone. It is an interesting concept and when you think you know where the book is going or what is coming, you don't. To be fair I am terrible trying to work out who the bad guy is or what is coming but even those good at it I don't think you will with this one because it is such a different idea/theme and as I was reading, I didn't trust anyone lol. This is the first book I have read by Louise Swanson (I have read under her other/original pen name) and it won't be my last. I have at least one more on my tbrm (Beech) and will get the others, 4/5 from us. It is certainly different so if you are looking for something of a change that also looks at shady government behaviours, unscrupulous behaviours in the NHS/healthcare, friendship, mental health, grief, shady characters and a world where fiction is banned, then this is for you!

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The War of The Worlds by H G Wells

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 6 days

Pages - 192

Publisher - 451 Flame Tree

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Cylinders land on Earth ans the invaders, from Mars, with heir huge, round bodies with tentacles, start to vaporize people on earth. Houses, towns ans cities are soon destroyed in a spiral of violence, creating civil panic ans mass evacuations before a foul black smoke is released by the agressive alien force. But the fightback must begin, and it comes from an unexpected quarter. H. G. Wells' classic tale of invasion has stirred our imagination for over a hundred years. Its intense mix of realism and fantasy continues to prick at anyone interested in a great adventure story by a master storyteller.


My Review

I don't think there is many, if any, who aren't familiar with The War of the Worlds, be it book or movies(s), I have seen some of the films but never read the book. Told in first person point of view we follow the main character, middle aged/older gentleman who lives near the first crash landing. From the initial speculation, group gathering, sightings to the realisation of the threat to all out war against humans.

With this guy we go through each stage, speculation, intrigue, fear to running for your life, survival and trying to keep ahead of the aliens, their weapons and the uglier dangerous side of humanity/survivors.

Absolute survivalism and we get to see a few sides to humanity and how people deal with it, tackle it and get through it (or not). The advancement of the aliens, how quickly they overcome us and how utterly helpless we are against their attack and different weapons. At one point he likens us to ants and or how humans treat animals as food and now we are on the receiving end of an unstoppable predator(s) and slaughter.

I absolutely will be rewatching the movies I think, I do enjoy a good alien read/film and enjoyed reading this one, I also think I will rewatch the one Stephen King done. Everytime I read of the red material covering stuff in my head all I kept saying was Ripley :P, if you know you know, 4/5 for me this time.

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August/September giveaway

Apologies how long it has took to sort this, we have put up a wee giveaway on our Insta already so not completely behind.

So for this month's giveaway what do we have?

A bloody handprints book protector as shown

One phone holder, as shown

And last but not least a wee pin badge, again as shown in the photo.

The usual, it is as in the pictures, the winner gets the bundle in the picture, no exchanges and as we are posting this out it is open worldwide.

To enter, just use the Rafflecopter below, the more entries completed the more your times your name goes in, good luck, competition will run until the end of next month.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunshine on Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

Sunshine on Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days (in and out)

Pages -

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

With customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith gives us another instalment in this popular series, now running in its eighth season in The Scotsman. Will Big Lou find true love at last? Will Bertie's healthy snacks go down well at his school fair? And has Bruce Anderson really won the lottery? It s time to catch up with the delightful goings-on in 44 Scotland Street!



My Review

This is book eight in the series, you can get away reading it as a standalone but I doubt you would enjoy it as much. There is a group of characters and we follow their lives and dramas so it is better to know their back stories to enjoy their current predicaments. Bertie ah poor wee Bertie, I do hope his overbearing mother gets some sort of Karma, she is a horror. We see the narcissistic Bruce make a reappearance and things take a weird twist, I am looking forward to picking up with that again. The wedding of the year, big Lou and a few pop ups from some of our other characters in this one. Cyril (the dog) gets a good bit more time/scenes/action in this one and whilst it may not be to everyones liking I do enjoy his doggy musings/thoughts.

It is like Friends but mixed ages and folk living locally/close in Edinburgh, poking a bit of fun at classisms and from the young to the elderly all the drama's and happenings! For me these books are a nice wee escapism from your everyday life and a bit of being a nosey neighbour almost :D

Light, fun, nothing too deep or dark. I will continue reading the series and hoping wee Bertie gets a break away from his overbearing mother and maybe his da will come through for him, 4/5. This has probably been one of the ones of the series I enjoyed more.

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A Mother's Secret by Katie Flynn

A Mother's Secret by Katie Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Pages - 426

Publisher -

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

The brand new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

Though she may feel lost, she will never give up on finding the truth…

1941: Libby’s life on the sprawling farm at Hollybank is a far cry from the bustling streets of London where she grew up, but after the tragic death of her parents she moved to Liverpool to be closer to her long-lost aunt and uncle.

When she discovers they are far from the decent people they claimed to be and have spun a web of lies about her late mother, Libby’s world is shaken. But she is determined to set the story straight and embarks on a journey to unravel the devastating secret her mother kept until her dying day.

Can Libby separate the truth from the lies, and forge a brighter future for herself?


My Review

Set in 1941, war is ongoing (themed throughout the book but not the main focus), it is a saga, small town and some good characters and some real shady potatoes! Libby and co are our main characters Libby has discovered some old diaries of her mums and finds out some things that shake her to her core. We find a lot of exploitation going on, people taking advantage of people, pretending to be something their aren't and out to get what they can for themselves with zero moral compass.

The story I believe features characters from previous books and act as standalones but I kinda felt a bit out the loop for some of this. Like the importance of the diaries, did we meet her mum before or Libby and would that have had a bigger impact on the finding of these and exposure of lies?

I really liked the girls from the farms and the newest addition to their group, an animal makes everything better and that which is good it takes to great. Relationships, families, skulduggery, criminality, it has a wee bit of everything set in the timeline of world war 2. I liked it but didn't love it and I do enjoy this authors works I just felt a bit like maybe I had missed out on important back story, maybe its just me. I do intend of getting the other books and may make more of an effort to read in order of release, 3/5.

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The Last Resort by Susi Holliday

The Last Resort by Susi Holliday
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 2 days

Pages -

Publisher -

Source -

Blurb from Goodreads

Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One perfect crime.

When Amelia is invited to an all-expenses-paid retreat on a private island, the mysterious offer is too good to refuse. Along with six other strangers, she’s told they’re here to test a brand-new product for Timeo Technologies. But the guests’ excitement soon turns to terror when the real reason for their summons becomes clear.

Each guest has a guilty secret. And when they’re all forced to wear a memory-tracking device that reveals their dark and shameful deeds to their fellow guests, there’s no hiding from the past. This is no luxury retreat—it’s a trap they can’t get out of.

As the clock counts down to the lavish end-of-day party they’ve been promised, injuries and in-fighting split the group. But with no escape from the island—or the other guests’ most shocking secrets—Amelia begins to suspect that her only hope for survival is to be the last one standing. Can she confront her own dark past to uncover the truth—before it’s too late to get out?



My Review

A group (seven) of popular individuals, influencers, top gamer, celeb style individuals are invited to the island, a vip trip where they will be spoiled and try out the newest technology on offer. On the flight there the group suddenly find themselves not having the trip they expected and having to put on a device that gets into their memories. The thing being, they all have a secret they wish to protect, one that could ruin their lives if it got out. Stranded and their secrets slowly being exposed the group find themselves turning on each other and doing what they need to to survive.

I think I really liked how this started out, bunch of spoiled people who care about themselves and their over inflated opinions grating! Not very likeable characters bar Amelia, she seems ok but it takes us longer to find out what her chat is as her device is a wee bit different to the others.

The book gave me vibes of Lord of the Flies but with adults and not as in your face feralness with each other and echoes of a few others. You feel tension and know something is coming but not what, nothing is what it seems on the face of it and you question what is coming and what you are being told.

I didn't like a whole lot of them so was absolutely wanting them to get their comeuppance. I felt that last quarter of the book took a bit of a different feel so for me, overall 3/5. I think this was my first time reading this author, I would read her again.

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