Twisted by Steve Cavanagh

Twisted by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 320

Publisher - Orion

Source - Netgalley (Review Copy)

Blurb from Goodreads

BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:

1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.

After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...


My Review

Sometimes you read a book and wonder why the title is chosen, sometimes you get it at the end of the book - the title is apparent pretty quickly, this book is twisted! J.T Lebeau is an author who is super popular, his books fly off the shelf and no one knows who he is. The book opens at a funeral, only four people know the authors identity and "one of them is about to eat a bullet" and then we go back four months to where it all kicks off!

Ooft what an opening to a book, well that and the whole threat from Lebeau in the authors note. It is a book that has you knocked off from the opening. Maria is married to Paul and it is disclosed pretty quickly there is an affair with Daryl. Pretty but a bit dim he makes Maria happy and Paul is so distant, cold and often working away she doesn't feel bad. When a simple action breaks open a secret held by Maria's husband everything chances, this is what Maria needs to get everything she wants. Sometimes one action can kick off a chain of events no one could have predicted, Maria has no idea what she is about to unleash and no one could forsee the consequences the need for a wee smoke could kick off.

Sheesh! you know you read a book and folk say it pulls the rug right out from under you? Well this book does it multiple times throughout. The title is apt because the book just throws/twists/shocks/ pretty much throughout. The author Lbeau wants his identity kept a secret and stops at nothing to keep it that way, nothing! Maria has a secret, her husband Paul has a secret, Daryl is Maria's secret and nothing is what is seems. It is a hard book to review because I don't do spoilers and one thing leads to another, to another, to another. It is fast paced, something is always going on, threat is looming and you just don't know what is coming.

I think it is very cleverly written, it keeps up the pace throughout the whole book - I just wanted to know what was happening and what was coming next. Sometimes you can predict where something is going and when I thought ah ha I know where this is going, no, no I didn't. Hats off to anyone who say they worked it out, any of it, as I was surprised pretty much throughout. A few times I found myself saying no waaaaaaaay - it is certainly an entertaining book and I just was just left wondering what on earth is coming next. Themes of murder, infidelity, love, lies, relationships, secrets and very much cat and mouse, 4.5/5 for me. This is only my second read by this author, it won't be my last!

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Hard Pushed by Leah Hazard

Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story by Leah Hazard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 304

Publisher - Cornerstone digital

Source - ARC (Netgalley)

Blurb from Goodreads

No sleep for twenty hours. No food for ten. And a ward full of soon-to-be mothers… Welcome to the life of a midwife.

Life on the NHS front line, working within a system at breaking point, is more extreme than you could ever imagine. From the bloody to the beautiful, from moments of utter vulnerability to remarkable displays of strength, from camaraderie to raw desperation, from heart-wrenching grief to the pure, perfect joy of a new-born baby, midwife Leah Hazard has seen it all.

Through her eyes, we meet Eleanor, whose wife is a walking miracle of modern medicine, their baby a feat of reproductive science; Crystal, pregnant at just fifteen, the precarious, flickering life within her threatening to come far too soon; Star, birthing in a room heady with essential oils and love until an enemy intrudes and Pei Hsuan, who has carried her tale of exploitation and endurance thousands of miles to somehow find herself at the open door of Leah’s ward.

Moving, compassionate and intensely candid, Hard Pushed is a love letter to new mothers and to Leah’s fellow midwives – there for us at some of the most challenging, empowering and defining moments of our lives.



My Review

I generally love reading these true account type books from workers within health settings. I think it gives us, members of the public and professionals working in care to see the other side of the coin. Hazzard takes us through her career both as a student starting out and as a qualified midwife, working with people from all walks of life, different colleagues and the joys and horrors encountered helping bring babies into the world.

I read the kindle version of this, there is a list of words/terms used within the book that readers will find helpful especially if not familiar with midwifery. If reading on the kindle it may be worth checking them out before starting the book so you don't have to flip back and forth. Hazzard gives an honest look into her day to day duties and how different one birth can be to another. Different aspects of her job, the joy, the fears, the sheer volume and crises midwives of today have to face.

I loved reading her passion for what she does, it comes across pretty much throughout every encounter. I learned a few things too and whilst I have always respected midwives for what they do I didn't realise how much their job entailed and if possible have an even greater respect now. Being with and assisting another person bring a child into the world is an amazing thing and sometimes we forget or ignore all the potentials that can go wrong. The book gives insight into it all and I have always said women who gave birth should have a gold star, I am thinking two or more now! The human body is an amazing thing and stories like this bring home just how fantastic and wonderful it can be. An emotive read and an eye opener of yet another service that is working under the strain of cuts from the government, more demands than often they can cope with and yet the staff continue to give 100 percent because what else can you do when working with people. 4.5/5 for me this time, the book is out to buy from May 2nd, ebook and tree book format.

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My Sister's Secret by Tracy Buchanan

My Sister's Secret by Tracy Buchanan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 339

Publisher - Avon

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Everything you’ve built your life on is a lie

Willow’s memories of her parents are sun-drenched and full of smiles, love and laughter. But a mysterious invitation to a photographic exhibition exposes a secret that’s been buried since a tragic accident years ago.

Willow is forced to question everything she knew about Charity, her late mother, and Hope, the aunt she’s lived with since she was a child.

How was the enigmatic photographer connected to Willow’s parents? Why will Hope not break her silence?

Willow cannot move forward in her life without answers. But who can she really trust? Because no one has been telling the truth for a very long time.

ADDICTIVE, GRIPPING and EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL, this is the perfect read for your summer holiday escape.



My Review

Willow is grown, has a job and is finally getting to visit the place her parents died, her fathers luxury cruise liner. Willow knows her parents loved each other, her relationship with her aunt Hope has always been difficult and now Willow has questions. Why does her aunt Hope evade questions about the past, why was she hiding an invitation for Willow to go to a photographers exhibition and can the photographer shed some light on her family history.

The book splits into two main timelines, the present with Willow and the past with Willow's mum Charity, her sisters and the love of her life. The four, three sisters and Charity's love interest are close until tragedy strikes and has long reach for all them all.

It is a story about love, family, relationships, secrets, betrayal, submerged forests, diving and dealing with the past. There were a few times I gasped because I hadn't seen something coming. It isn't a murder mystery or anything like that but I think if you have close relationships you will be drawn in quickly and the actions and behaviours of some of the characters will pack an emotive punch. A family drama well done and I loved the parts with the submerged forests, diving, visiting the sunken ship because this is something I will never do. I think an author shows their ability when they can transport you to something like that, when she was in the ship, despite it being a brief scene it was really well done. I felt a bit claustrophobic reading it and saw it with complete clarity, the wreck, the emotions Willow was feeling, fabulously created scene. This was my first time reading this author, it won't be my last 4/5 stars for me!

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Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner by Helen Cox

Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner by Helen Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 270

Publisher - Maze

Blurb from Goodreads

What brings Bonnie Brooks to The Starlight Diner? And why is she on the run?

As the front-woman in a band, Bonnie is used to being in the spotlight, but now she must hide in the shadows.

Bonnie only has one person who she can turn to: her friend Esther Knight, who waitresses at the Fifties-themed diner. There, retro songs play on the jukebox as fries and sundaes are served to satisfied customers. But where has Esther gone?

Alone in New York City, Bonnie breaks down in front of arrogant news reporter, and diner regular, Jimmy Boyle. Jimmy offers to help her. Can she trust him?

When the kindly owner of the Starlight Diner offers Bonnie work, and she meets charming security officer Nick Moloney, she dares to hope that her luck has changed. Is there a blossoming romance on the cards? And can Bonnie rebuild her life with the help of her Starlight Diner friends?



My Review

Bonnie is a singer in a band and finds herself in a spot of bother. Changing her appearance and going from the spotlight to hiding she heads to the Starlight Diner to find her old friend Esther. Esther may not be so delighted to see Bonnie but Bonnie has no choice, in danger and with nowhere else to go Bonnie breaks down in front of Jimmy, a disliked local reporter. Before long Bonnie has reestablished her friendship with Bonnie, met a new guy called Nick and making friends in the diner but you can't outrun your past or the people chasing you as Bonnie will soon find out.

It took me a wee bit to get into this one, not because I didn't like the writing, more because we know someone is after Bonnie but it takes a bit to find out who or why. I get quite irritated by that as I am so nosey and want to know, it does make for compelling reading though as you want to know what it is all about. I loved the diner, the music takes you back to the golden oldies days which in itself sparks some wonderful memories. I always love those diners and the book is written with such vivid scenes you can picture yourself within it and a few scenes made me hungry!

The story has a mix of thriller, girl on the run someone is after her, relationships, self preservation, personal growth, love, betrayal and friendship. This is my first time reading this author, I would certainly read her again. This is the second Starlight Diner book, I hadn't read the first and don't feel I lost anything having not read it before hand although I liked this one so much I will get the first. The ratings on here only allow for full stars so for me it is a 3 however I would say it was 3.5 out of 5 for me. Well written and creating characters you want to know more about, thanks so much to the publishers for sending me a copy and introducing me to a new author.

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