Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh

Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 766

Publisher - Piatkus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

He's underwater, but she'll pull him out, whatever it takes. With his world unraveling around him and pressures rising at home, Joey Lynch's life has never been in more turmoil. Desperate to prove himself worthy of the only person he's ever put his trust in, Joey fights hard to save himself from his addiction, but the odds are stacked against him. Day by day, the water is rising. Giving into his demons would destroy everything he's worked for—but soon, even love doesn't seem like enough to reach the surface. Unwilling to give up on her best friend, the boy she's fallen for, Aoife Molloy fights back against Joey's self-destruction with everything she has. But she's drowning, too, in this world she doesn't understand, with only her fiery heart to guide her. As circumstances change and unexpected hurdles rise between them, hearts will break and mend and break again. All the while, Aoife refuses to turn her back on Joey—because he's always had hers, too. In the end, it will be up to both of them if their hearts are worth healing and their love is worth saving.


My Review

If you haven't read Saving 6 you need to as this is a follow up to that book, you could get away with not reading Keeping 13 and Binding 13 but I would read them anyway as they are good and also were we meet Joey but you can start with Saving 6. So we don't do spoilers in our reviews so I will try not to but as it is a follow on from Saving 6 some of it won't. So we left things with Joey and Aoife in a pretty sad state and this book delves deeper into that. Aoife is fiercely loyal to Joey despite how far he goes into self destruction, even to the point I was like GIRL!!!!

The book goes into a lot of dark places, abuse, addictions, domestic violence, family violence, alcoholism, drug use and ingestion, fighting, sexual violence, self harm, threats like so much darkness. The chapters go between Joey and Aoife's points of view, as things happen and Joey reacts to it and the fall out for Aoife. Family dynamics, secrets, betrayals, love, loss, spicey scenes and the characters are teens as you know so things that affect and are relevant to that age group.

I have the next two to read and looking forward to them but also have the fear because they are absolutely engaging but also have dark dark themes, 4.5/5.

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Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody

Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 3 days

Pages - 416

Publisher - Electric monkey

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads


When seventeen-year-old Violet is left heartbroken by the captain of her school's ice hockey team, she vows to never date a jock again. But, in an attempt to prove she's moved on, she turns to the most unlikely person—her ex's biggest rival, the notorious captain of the Ransom Devils.

Reed Darling is gorgeous, mysterious and intimidating, both on and off the ice. Wild rumors constantly circulate about him, and the only thing people love to talk about more than his hockey skills are his exploits as a ruthless heartbreaker and bad boy. Who better to serve as Violet's fake boyfriend until her ex gets the message, right?

But despite the intense rivalry between their two schools and Reed's infamous reputation, Violet soon starts to wonder if there's more to him than the gossip suggests. And while she tries her best to control their 'relationship' with a list of strict guidelines, Reed has other ideas. He's set his sights on winning her over and is determined to show Violet he's not the guy everyone thinks he is.

She should have known better than to make a deal with a devil because this one is going to break all her rules.

Rival Darling is a YA hockey rom-com with a HEA and no cliffhanger and the first in the Darling Devils series.


My Review

Hey so this is my first dance with this author. Young adult isn't a genre I pick up too much, I don't ow why because the ones I have read I have liked. I got book two sent for review so bought this one to read first, absolutely can be a standalone to be fair. Violet is living in a small town with her uncle whilst her mum pursues her career again! Let down by her boyfriend, super spoiled, head of the school ice hockey team, comes from money and cocky as she finds herself stranded and at the mercy of bad boy Reed Darling she reluctantly accepts his help. He is captain of the rival ice hockey team, his history and reputation is everything she hates about Jocks, more so now her boyfriend has betrayed her. She vows never again but needs to keep the ex off her case so enters into a fake relationship with Reed, she will keep the ex at bay and he can keep all the puck bunnies away and focus on his game. The only problem is Reed really likes Violet and knows she isn't interested in another sports guy, by doing this he can get closer.

This could have been a college set book and sometimes reading it I completely forgot they were high school, the parties, the ice hockey (we don't have that in schools here). The way the rivalry between the teams/sides of town. Violet is sweet but girl some of the stuff she does, but I get wanting to fit in and really missing her mum who always promises to call and consistently lets her down. She, the mother has a lot to answer for! The issues she has with dating a sports guy, also comes from past/parents and typical when she breaks that rule her boyfriend is a total rat.

It is a good wee reality break, poolside read if you will, I really liked the family bonds with the Darlings. His mum and dad should have their own books, they seem like really nice people, it makes you wonder how so many of the rumours got so easily swallowed in the town. Like Reed, fair enough but the truths that come out vs lies, how you manage to keep anything private in a small town is almost non existent but rumours are also rife and easily accepted in small towns.

The story is very cutesy, fake romance but they both clearly like each other, very cute to see developing, a few irritations but they are teens so totally normal, 4/5 for me. Nice we dip from adult reality and book two at the ready which I believe will be centred around Reed's brother and the object of his affections.

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Behind Closed Doors by Susan Lewis

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by Susan Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 382

Publisher - Arrow

Source - Bought

Blurb from Amazon

Don't miss this powerful and suspenseful novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of One Minute Later.

When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night, it looks at first as though she’s run away from home.

Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she’s taken a bag full of clothes.

As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide.

For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie’s disappearance than teenage rebellion.

But is the past clouding her judgement, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie’s family, would ever want to face?


My Review

Sophie is fourteen, living in a caravan style holiday place, seeking attention from boys/men to make up for the lack of attention at home. After a huge row with her stepmom Sophie goes missing, initially felt to be one of her stunts but as time goes on it seems it may not just be a teen acting out, is Sophie in danger? D S Andrea Lawrence is on the case and maybe a little clouded due to having her own sister go missing years ago. Can she remain impartial to get to the bottom of it and find Sophie?

Set in a smallish town, holiday homes/caravans style setting where lots of people have many secrets as the case becomes serious and the cops start digging it seems everyone has something to hide. Focusing on some shady characters, offences relating to under age girls, cover ups, lies, secrets, families, family pressure. It is a melting pot of gossip, scandal and shocking people who seem more interested in their own issues than a young girl going missing.

I think Lewis does well to weave a web of characters, often shady or at least make you question them. Page turner, riveting especially from a nosey stance because you want to know what is going on, what they are hiding and most importantly where is Sophie and can we get her back safetly, 4/5.

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Light as a Feather by Zoe Aarsen

Light as a Feather by Zoe Aarsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Pages - 385

Publisher -

Source - I think this was a competition win

Blurb

Riverdale meets Final Destination in this fast-paced and deliciously creepy novel about an innocent game that turns deadly at a high school sleepover.

It was supposed to be a game…

Junior year is shaping up to be the best of McKenna Brady’s life. After a transformative summer, McKenna is welcomed into the elite group of popular girls at Weeping Willow High, led by the gorgeous Olivia Richmond. For the first time in a long time, things are looking up.

But everything changes the night of Olivia’s Sweet Sixteen sleepover. Violet, the mysterious new girl in town, suggests the girls play a game during which Violet makes up elaborate, creepily specific stories about the violent ways the friends will die. Though it unsettles McKenna, it all seems harmless at the time.

Until a week later, when Olivia dies…exactly as Violet predicted.

As Violet rises to popularity and steps into the life Olivia left unfinished, McKenna becomes convinced Olivia’s death wasn’t just a coincidence, especially when a ghost haunting her bedroom keeps leaving clues that point to Violet. With the help of her cute neighbor, Trey, McKenna pledges to get to the bottom of Violet’s secrets and true intentions before it’s too late. Because it’s only a matter of time before more lives are lost.


My Review

So how many times when you were younger did you engage in games at a stay over? For us we used to play spirits, in this book it is almost like that but huge vibes from The Craft movie. The girls are a mixed bunch Olivia is the popular girl, money, location, beauty, McKenna has kind of just made it back into the fold and new girl who is quite quiet/reserved Violet has also just made it in. The game is simple, one lies on the ground, the others around, fingers underneath and someone, Violet, leads and tells them one by one in graphic detail a story about how they will die. Spooky and creepy but it is just a game right? Until one of the stories comes true, lots of questions, was it a coincidence, did Violet somehow know? Is the rest of the stories going to happen?

So this is absolutely young adult, teen with horror type vibes going through. So there is a lot of the angst and issues that are important to the youngsters, having a date for prom, getting judged for not, mean girl vibes within the popular clique and then the spooky story/game. McKenna has the cute guy next door neighbour but he is thought to be weird so much as McKenna does like him their friendship is under the radar.

The book is a little bit all over the place as we have McKenna liking the brother of cool girl Olivia, the secret friendship with mchottie next door. Then the turn of the supernatural now I loved that and you would absolutely be diving into where did she actually come from, whats her history, how did this happen, how can her story be so close to what happens. I did love that, some of the bitchy and teen behaviour/choices did annoy me but I think it reflects of the age group of those involved (for the most part to be fair).

I wasn't a huge lover of how we rounded up and I get that there are more books in the series so the need for it and I will most likely read them because I am nosey and want to know. Some bits riveting, some were just ok and I was annoyed at a few bits but the book kept me engaged a good bit. Apparently there is a tv show too so think I will have a nosey at that, absolutely going to rewatch the craft movie, 3.5/5 for me.

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The Promise by Katerina Diamond

The Promise by Katerina Diamond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - less thank one day

Pages - 448

Publisher - Avon

Source - Netgalley (review copy)

Blurb from Goodreads

‘All hail the new Queen of Crime!’ Heat

When troubled teen Connor moves to Exeter from the US to escape his past, he finds himself embroiled in a world of popular kids and easy girls. Everyone wants to be his friend, but they don’t know about what he did…and they don’t know about his father.

As Connor’s life in England begins to unravel, DS Adrian Miles and his partner Imogen Grey are working up against the clock to catch a serial killer who dates his victims before he kills them. Determined to uncover the truth, Imogen is forced to act as bait – but will she take it too far and risk her own life?

Katerina Diamond is back with a bang in this dark, twisted novel, perfect for fans of M.J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.


My Review

This is book four in the series, I say often you can pick up a book and start reading but with this I would advise going back to get the back story of the characters and more understanding of the existing relationships. Connor is 16 and moved with his dad to where his dad grew up, Connor is beautiful, popular and soon pulled into school life but they don't know why Connor had to leave his old school. Nor do they realise what Connor's father is really like and what is the pull to the neighbour next door?

Detective Imogen Grey and Adrian Moles are on the case of a murdered woman, why was she targeted and is this a serial killer? We then split into another narrative, a young trouble woman being abused, targeted and in fear for what is coming next. It took me a wee bit to settle into the three separate stories, Connor - we know something in his past happened but why and what is the deal with his father? The young woman whose story will bring chills to anyone who has dealt with an abusive and or manipulative partner. We get to see a more personal side to the detectives, four books we have been with them, seen them survives challenges, killers, family life, work life engagement. It is a really busy wee book but it works, I think Connor's story was the main focus rather than the killer/detectives or the unidentified woman but I found them all engaging .

I sank into the story quickly, I have read all the books in this series so was eager to see what came next for our officers. It is brutal in parts, riveting, shocking but we also see a gentler side of our detectives from the reverberations of everything that has passed so far. During a few scenes I gasped out loud, one in particular I had to read over again I was so shocked, I LOVE when a book catches you like that! 4/5 for me this time, I cannot wait for the next installment in the series, hurry up writing Diamond.

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