Life of Crime by Kimberley Chambers

Life of Crime by Kimberley Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - as and when I could over 2 days

Pages - 528

Publisher - HarperCollins

Source - Review copy


Blurb from Goodreads


If you could get away with the perfect crime - would you?


HEAVEN HAS NO RAGE, LIKE LOVE TO HATRED TURNED.
NOR HELL A FURY, LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED.



My Review

Meet Jason Rampling, this is his story, a bit of a jack the lad, fingers in many pies, ducking and diving and looking for a mother for his kid. When he is zeroed in on by the flighty Tracey it is her quiet plain friend who catches his eye. There begins the story of Jason and Melissa, Melissa can't believe he would pick her over Tracey, she is used to playing second fiddle to her friend. But pick her he did, his Shay needs a mother and Melissa could be the answer to all his prayers.

So this is a different kind of story from Chambers, still skulduggery, crime, relationship woes and some very steamy/graphic sexual scenes. However, she doesn't fall into the formulaic pattern some writers do when they write a fair amount of books of the same genre. The characters are fresh, the story lines hook you from the get go and provoke emotions and responses from the reader, well it did for me. Fury at how Melissa is treated by a few of her so called loved ones and friends. The story is original, fresh, keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out what skulduggery is coming next.

I have never been one of those readers who guesses everything, I think even those who do will be kept on their toes with this one. I think one of the reasons I like Chambers work so much is because she never disappoints, that said I always have the fear picking up her newest offerings, just in case lol. Humour, sex, anger, violence, secrets, betrayal and don't forget the swearing are all included in Life of Crime, if you enjoyed Chambers previous offerings you will love this. 5/5 for me this time, I am sure I have read all her books and eagerly await her next. Life of Crime is out to buy from 11/01/18 from all good retailers.

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ARC - Another Way To Fall by Amanda Brooke

Another Way to Fall by Amanda Brooke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 6 days

Publisher - HarperFiction (HarperCollins)

Blurb From Goodreads

What would you do if you could write the story of your life?

After battling a brain tumour twenty-nine year old Emma thinks she is in the clear, but her world comes crashing down around her when she is told her fight was in vain, and there is nothing more the doctors can do.

Realising that she won’t now have time to achieve the things she dreamed of, Emma decides to write her perfect life in a story. She imagines all the things she would have done, the places she would have seen, the husband she would have shared her life with and the family they would have raised. And, mysteriously, as she writes her story, she starts to notice that some of her dreams seem to be coming true.

Now with a real love in her life, and her fading hope burning brighter, reality and fiction start to become blurred. As she writes their life-long love story Emma dares to believe that anything is possible, but can she really change her fate?



My Review


Emma is 29, sitting in the doctors office waiting to hear if her cancer is gone. Her life has been on hold and now is her chance to get it back on track. However the news she receives is far from positive and Emma has to face the harsh reality that there is nothing more to be done. Emma decides to write a book, chronicling her life how she feels it should have been had fate and her body not cheated her.

The story splits between reality and Emma's book, her fantasy world. In her real life she is trying to cope with her diagnosis, her mother’s inability to accept it and trying everything in her power to save her daughter. Her relationships and things she has to tie up before she dies. Her fantasy world is written in italics so you know the story has switched and goes into depth on what would have happened had she got the all clear that day at the doctor’s office.

I felt this story had a bit of a lull at parts and yet others I couldn't stop reading. It pulls on your heart strings and you can't help but wonder what if it was you or your daughter or sister. What would you do differently?

We meet some characters who have amazing strength and character, Emma of course and her mother and some who are not. Cancer can change a life and this story gives an insight into it and how it touches the lives of not just the person suffering but also their nearest and dearest. As I mentioned there were some lulls in the story, however the last quarter I actually couldn't put down. You find yourself on a bit of an emotional and thought provoking journey with this book. This is a new author for me, I would definitely read her again. 4/5 for me this time, thanks to HarperFiction and Jaime Frost (at HarperCollins) for giving me an ARC copy of this and for introducing me to a new author. This book is out to buy, in paperback for £7.99 from the 22nd of August 2013.

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PRR - Revenge wears prada by Lauren Weisberger

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time Taken to Read - 7 days

Publisher - Harper Collins

Blurb From Goodreads

Everything's in place for the season's hottest launch: Tall latte (with two raw sugars)? Check. Gucci trench (draped over desk)? Check. Outrageous, unreasonable demands? Check. Andy has just turned thirty and is an incredibly successful magazine editor, working closely with her best friend Emily, another Runway survivor. She's about to get married - life's on track and she's been careful to stay clear of Miranda Priestly, her dreadful first boss. But Andy's luck is running out. Miranda Priestly isn't the kind of woman who hides in the background. She's back...and more devilish than ever.


My review

I haven't read the previous book, the devil wears prada however I don't think you need to have as there was a few cast backs and explanations with relationships and situations.

It starts up ten years after the last book left off, when Andy told the evil Miranda to **** off in the middle of the street and left her job. Her arch enemy from her time working with Miranda at the magazine, Emily, is now her best friend and together they made a hugely successful bridal magazine "The Plunge". Andy is getting married, her magazine is doing better than anyone could have hoped, what could go wrong? Of course, que Miranda coming back into Andy's life and things going on a downward spiral.

I wasn't too sure what way this book was going to go, Andy finds a note on the morning of her wedding that causes her to have second thoughts. You think this is going to be a huge focus of the book however it then takes a different turn, then Miranda comes into her life, as does an ex. For me it just seemed a bit all over the place and if I had to sum it up in one word, I would need to say vanilla. It was just meh, it wasn't badly written it was just fairly mundane. Near the end there was two twists and even they were not enough to save the book. It took me over a week to get through this, I just didn't find it engaging really. I think I will pick up the first book at some point which may evoke some more interest in these characters however reading some of the reviews that only added more annoyance to previous fans. Sadly this just didn't do anything for me 2/5 this time, the actual writers style I didn't mind so I would try one of her books again. Thanks to Harper Collins for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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ARC - The Lost Boy by Camilla Lackberg

The Lost Boy by Camilla Läckberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 6 days

Publisher - HarperFiction

Blurb from Goodreads

No. 1 international bestseller and Swedish crime sensation Camilla Lackberg's new psychological thriller - irresistible for fans of Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo. On a late summer's night, a young woman jumps in her car, her hands slippery with blood on the steering wheel. Taking her five-year-old son, Nathalie flees to the only safe haven she knows: the island of Graskar off the coast of Fjallbacka...Meanwhile, Detective Patrik Hedstrom has barely stepped foot inside his office following a lengthy sick leave before he catches a murder investigation. A man has been murdered in his home: the victim, Mats Sverin, was the council's financial director, heading up a regeneration project worth millions. But when Patrik and his team start digging into the dead man's life, all they can uncover is unanswered questions. Why was Mats in such a rush to return to his home town of Fjallbacka after years in Gothenburg? And is it pure coincidence that Mats's childhood sweetheart Nathalie has also suddenly returned to the area? Mats visited Nathalie on Graskar before his death. The locals call the island 'The Ghost Isle' - they say that it's haunted, and that the dead have something to tell the living. But will anyone get close enough to uncover the dark secrets that lurk there?



My Review

The book draws you in from the first page, in fact even the first sentence. "It was only when she placed her hands on the steering wheel that she saw they were bloody". Nathalie is fleeing with her son, her hands covered in blood, but what has happened and why is she running? Patrik is a police officer in the small town of Fjallbacka, where Nathalie is running to, married to a successful novelist Erica trying to cope with grief and a murder case. Mats Sverin was left behind years ago by Nathalie, now she is back and suddenly he is dead. Is it coincidence? What has Mats been hiding and did it lead to his death?

I liked the story and found myself drawn in fairly quickly however there was far too many characters and different stories going on for me to keep up. Obviously you have the main one(s) but there are quite a few side lines ones and I kept finding myself having to go back to rediscover who was which story which is a bit frustrating.

There is also, in between chapters where the story goes back to FJALLBACKA 1870, the story is always titled and the year also written in italics so you know it has gone back in time. I loved reading these small glimpses of the past and Emelie's story however by the end of it I honestly thought, really? Thats is as I would have loved so much more and in depth.

This was my first time reading this author and to be honest, nothing is lost in translation and it's not often I will say that. It was a good story and you get tie ups to just about all the stories but I did find a few of the stories could have been dropped and or concentrated more on the main ones. However all in all a good introduction to this author and her work, I would consider more from this series, 3/5 for me. Thanks so much to the publisher, HarperFiction for sending me an ARC copy - available to buy from Hardback and ebook from all good retailers for £12.99 from 4th April 2013.

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ARC - Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley

Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1 day

Publisher - HarperFiction

Blurb From Goodreads

A gripping, suspenseful debut that will haunt you long after you have turned the final page…

Angie Chapman is only 13 when she gets lost in the woods in the middle of the night.

The next thing she knows she’s returned home, scars around her wrists and ankles, physically exhausted. Her parents collapse into tears when they see her, but Angie doesn’t understand – until they tell her she has been missing, presumed dead, for three years.

Angie doesn’t remember anything from her missing years. But there are people who do – people who could tell Angie every terrifying detail, if only they weren’t locked inside her mind.

With help, Angie begins to unravel the darkest secrets of her own past.

But does she really want to know the truth?



My Review

Angie Chapman is just 13 when she is kidnapped, she finds herself returning home with no memory of what had happened and covered in scars. Things aren't the same although she stills feels 13, however she soon is told that three years have passed and everyone wants to know where she has been and what has happened. Angie starts therapy and soon learns pieces and glimpses of how she survived and what she endured during her time away. How will she cope with it and how can she fall back into her old life when everyone has aged three years and changed. Nothing is the same and Angie's family is already struggling to cope with her sudden reappearance, lack of answers and what is still to come.

I really liked this story although considering the context I think like isn't the appropriate word but you know what I mean. It kicks off right away and is broken into decent length chapters with some sections covered by another "voice" which is done in different font or italics so you know. It is hard to describe that bit without giving too much of the plot away however there are people who know what happened to Angie and it is them who are talking when the font changes.

The story is brutal but done in such a way that you don't have to read all the horrible nitty grtty details, it is done in such a way you still get the full impact and there are some disturbing scenes but written delicately.

Angie is a strong character, she comes across much older than 13 however when you start to understand what she has endured it makes it believable and your heart goes out to her. The book definitely has echos of The Room and The lovely bones so if you liked them this is definitely one to read. I wasn't too sure when I started reading it if I was going to like it, looking at the clock and seeing it is past 1am I realized I had been totally drawn in! It loses a star because there are a few things I would have liked more clarification and followed up on but I really enjoyed it and will read this author again, 4/5 for this one. Thanks to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for providing me with an ARC and introducing me to yet another new author. This book is available to buy from any good retailer on the 28th February 2013, paperback for £7.99.

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ARC - The Trap by Kimberley Chambers

The Trap by Kimberley Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 3 days

Blurb From Goodreads

The heir to Martina Cole’s crown with a story of murder, the underworld, violence and treachery.

The Butlers are the kings of the East End

Vinny and Roy Butler are the apple of their mum’s eye. Queenie knows they can play dirty, but when it comes to family they look after business and make her proud. Nothing and no one can bring them down.

Brotherly love

But Vinny seems to have crossed the wrong person and his cards are marked. And with the brothers joined at the hip, Roy may just be in the firing line too…

Deadly rivals

One bloody night sets Vinny on the path of desperate vengeance, but will the Butlers emerge stronger than ever, or is the East End code of honour as good as dead?


My Review

A pair of villains that would give the Krays a run for their money. Chambers introduces Vinny and Roy Butler, tall, dark, handsome and notorious in their own right. The boys are getting everything they want and nothing or no one will stand in their way. Family means everything to the Butlers, their mum knows and to some extent encourages the boys lifestyle. Everyone knows what goes around comes around and one night when all should be filled with joy, the past catches up with the boys. Will the family stick together and come out triumphs or will retribution destroy them all?

Ah I loved this book! There is more to the family than Roy and Vinny but for a large portion of the book they are the main characters although Michael, the other brother, starts to come through strong. It is a story about strong family values amongst violence, murder, prostitution, sex, scandal and villainy. The story is split across an eleven year period and starts off in the mid 1960s. I love when a book is set in a time period and is researched well, from what they wore and drove to the music that was popular and played.

There is a mix of relationships, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, nephews, marriages and budding romances. There is a lot of coarse language, some graphic scenes and the usual skulduggery you would expect to find in an East End gangster style book. Had work and studies not got in the way I could have easily devoured this in one sitting. My only moan is how it ended, I was left hanging thinking what the hell, this is how it is going to end? However I have since been informed the other book is in progress as I type and they say a good author should always leave the reader wanting more, which it certainly has in this case. 5/5 for me for this one and I cannot wait for this next installment to be completed and available. This book will be out on Valentines day, 2013 from any good retailer for £6.99, paperback. Thanks so much to HarperCollins for sending me an ARC, I will be making a wee stop to Waterstones to get some more of Chambers work as this is only the second book I have read.

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ARC - All Fall Down by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards

All Fall Down by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb from Goodreads

Two years on from uncovering a terrifying conspiracy of rogue scientists, all Kate Maddox wants is to lead a normal life with her partner Paul and son Jack. But then a face from the past turns up, bringing chilling news.
A devastating new strain of the virus that killed Kate’s parents is loose in L.A. – and when a bomb rips through a hotel killing many top scientists, it becomes clear someone will do anything to stop a cure being found.
While Paul goes on the hunt for answers, Kate finds herself in a secret laboratory in the heart of California, desperately seeking a way to stop the contagion. But time is running out and soon it will be too late to save their loved ones, themselves, and the world…

My Review

Kate Maddox is a virologist and the world is about to need her. Terrorists have released a new strain of virus that spreads and kills quicker that its predecessor ever did. The terrorists means business and bomb a convention with top scientists and a specific target or two amoung them to stop any chance of a cure. Kate has to make a choice, to help the world and leave her family behind or stay with them and watch it collapse and die slowly. Time is running out and Kate finds herself targeted, under pressure and in a life threatening situations.

I really enjoyed this story from the start and it kicks off fairly swiftly with patient zero. We then are introduced to Kate and the story really goes from there when she is addressed to come and help deal with the situation. Paul is her boyfriend and plays a big part in the story too however he branches off searching out people relating to his brothers death. The story also breaks off into the terrorists and the main characters from there, building up a picture of how they work and why they are doing what they do. It sounds like a lot to take in but actually it isn't, they all slot into their parts and the story links in very quickly to each other.

The chapters are really short, which as you know I love, so as the story flips between them you can follow it easily and dip in and out as you have to. To be honest I could have read it in one sitting had time permitted. It has a great pace to it, really good story and you don't have to be virus savy or have a high IQ to follow the scientist viral stuff. There is some sex in the book but not a huge focus and you can skip by if without missing anything from the story. The idea behind what drives the terrorists is really interesting too and I enjoyed having a wee read up on that and learning something new from that side (sorry to be vague but I hate spoilers).

Even as you approach the big conclusion there are still more surprises and action to come. This is my first time reading these authors and it won't be my last. Kate Maddox has made an appearance in at least one previous book (I believe this would be the 3rd joint effort) and this can be read, as I did, as a stand alone. I will seek out their previous books as I did like the style of writing and quick pace, 4/5 for me.

Thanks so much to HarperCollins for sending me this ARC. You can get your own copy when this book comes out on the 14th of February 2013 (or you can get the ebook from Amazon.co.uk from the 20th of December 2012).

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