Review: The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman by Mindy Meija

PURCHASE/GOODREADS.

Imagine This: Your life’s a movie.

You’ve been playing so many roles you’re not sure who you are. There’s the you who is the good daughter, there’s another who’s the good friend, another who’s the good girlfriend and a student. Yes, a student who has the hots for the new English teacher.

The student, you find, is the only self that allows you to be who you really are. If there ever is a thing such as ‘who you really are’. You’re pursuing love finally, you’re fucking your teacher in an old barn in your small town eventually.

One night, he’d promise you the two of you will leave for New York. Then something unbecoming happens: the unbecoming of you. In which you’re stabbed in the heart and several times in the face.

You’ll never get to live your dreams, you’ll never get to be whoever you wanted to be. Your true self. Though now, all is not lost. Your dead self could help us solve the mystery of your life.

Who killed you?

My review.

Sometimes, you read all around that there’s this brilliant thriller, that’s original and suspenseful. But then you pick it up and you wish you hadn’t picked it up. Please, this book isn’t like that.

The storyline is original. The point of views are refreshing and intriguing. There’s Hattie Hoffman the lead character who’s twisted and manipulative, although she’s Amy Dunne with soul. There’s Peter, the teacher sleeping with Hattie. There’s Del, our lead investigator who has a creepy relationship with Hattie’s dad (you will have so many assumptions running through your head. I loved each and every one of them)

Well, why I think this is original:

1.      Ever read a thriller which is enacted around a Shakespearean play? You should love this thriller if you are literature fanatic(—which you are, that’s why you read)

2.      Del, our lead investigator is not a cliché. I have DNFed a lot of thrillers because the lead investigator’s point of view and even his character is so clichéd you want to cry. Like really cry. If you wanted crime fiction you might as well go get it.

3.      Yes, a lot of crime fiction takes advantage of the fact that they can only be plot-driven and read terribly. The writing of this one is fine, almost literary. So you won’t be DNFing this one because of its inexistent crappy writing.

Killer Review: In The Cafe of Lost Youth by Patrick Modiano

PURCHASE / GOODREADS

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine This:  You are missing. Your husband is in search of you. A detective is in search of you. A narrator with whom you have an unknown relationship is in search of you.

When everyone is asking around for you, getting on clues to piece your disappearance together and find you, only you know where 

you are. And you might not even know you are missing.

MY REVIEW

I’m in love with Patrick Modiano. I had this perception that to win a Nobel Prize in Literature you have to be a Wole Soyinka (whose writing I dislike so much despite being African. I know, hang me!). Anyway, Modiano writes with skill, every word, every sentence needs to be decoded so the reader can piece the mystery pervading in the novel. A star.—★

About the mystery. You’d find yourself wondering where Jacqueline DeLanque (“Louki”) is. Throughout the novel, you’d be wondering why the fuss with her. (Because the narrators sure do make a fuss about her). There’s one thing though you’d love about Jacqueline, you wouldn’t be able to figure her out, she’s complex, complicated, and perhaps demented from past, childhood demons. A star to the mystery, and another to the main character.—★★★

One of the nicest things about this novel is I couldn’t put a genre to it. At one point I thought it was solely a mystery novel, then I thought it was intrigue—when missing woman is given her point of view—then I pegged it down as just literary fiction because I couldn’t pinpoint the direction of the story but the missing woman didn’t seem missing at all, and when I gave up trying to put a genre to it enjoying its beautiful writing (novels are like sexuality! It’s not all black-and-white!), I found out it was a Literary (Psychological) Thriller in the end.—★★★★

Get this along with all the Patrick Modiano collection from Quercus. This year, they are really bringing him in this season with about four titles you could enjoy from this literary sensation.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves their novels mysterious so much you can’t even tell what the words on the page are saying till you come to realization that—OMG—you should have paid more attention to the clues the writer was trying to drop.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads as well as Amazon.

 Amazon

Killer Review: While My Eyes Were Closed by Linda Green

Purchase|Goodreads 

My Synopsis

Imagine This: In a game of hide-and-seek, you close your eyes and count to a hundred... THEN YOUR DAUGHTER GOES MISSING. 

You are frazzled, you've been searching all over the park for her. Either she's suddenly become a great hider or... you don't want to think of the possibilities! 

The police come into the scene. Pretty useless as always, looking within your family for suspects.

You realize she's been taken away. You pray whoever took her is not a paedophile-psycopath.

Well, you are in luck. Whoever took her is not a stranger. But they may not be willing to give her back (if you are not looking in the right places).

The game of hide-and-seek is waged and Linda Dale's life begins falling apart.

My Review 

First of all, good book! I love the storyline. Although not unique in that OMG, I HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK-sense, it's the kind of goodness you expect of a novel within the child-goes-missing-mother-is-searching-for-her genre. A star to the storyline.—★

The two main characters are well-developed. Linda Dale, the mother of the missing girl. And the other person who has snatched up the girl. They are both given first-person point-of-views in this novel, and their voices are very distinct because... yeah, one is the distraught mother and the other is a psycho with a messed-up head.—★★

Other characters you'd love are, Vince, Linda's dad who would stop at nothing to get back her daughter. There's also Ella, the missing daughter who won't stop with the funny questions. There's the kidnapper, who's cynicism comes off funny at times (should have pointed this above). You would also love Matthew, the son to the crazy kidnapper who has his own narrative as well as the main characters.—★★★

A feature I love about this book is that it makes the kidnapper really known from the start. Yet, this has no bearing on the suspense of this book, as it gets suspenseful with each ticking day.—★★★★

My rating: A four-point-five star. (4.5/5stars).

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a title that's a split between a thriller and women's fic. If you love books featuring missing characters, go get this. Perhaps, you also want a well-written book? This book is that more. 

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads and Amazon. 

Blog Tour+ Review: Just Haven't Met You Yet by Cate Woods

Purchase|Goodreads 


My Synopsis 

Imagine This: You don't have the most inspiring job, but you have the world's adorable boss. You have an amazing network of friends who you can get thrashed with on a friday night. And you have a boyfriend.

He's just your boyfriend. He has no special, surprising traits although he's so caring and likes one too many lint-free sweaters. He's just... nice, and kind. And he's asked you to move in. But... err... But nothing! You guess you'd move in with him then.

So when a company approaches you claiming they have the world's best match systems and can pair you with your soulmate... you begin to wonder if your safe, surprise-free boyfriend (whom your parents adore) could be your soulmate. I mean, if you were with your soulmate already why would this company approach you? Cutting edge technology can't go wrong, right?

Except you didn't see the twist coming. 

Percy James' romantic-life summarized for your delight. 

MY REVIEW 

I loved this book! Don't be fooled. The storyline doesn't seem unique: Girl wonders if her boyfriend is her soulmate. But it has a surprising, delicious twist (—way before you read half of it!) that would keep you laughing, spewing your wine, opening your mouth for a few more minutes, before continuing to read a book that ceases to be ordinary chicklit and becomes something different! A star to the storyline.—★

Yay! You'd adore Percy James! OMG, her voice! She's so funny! You wouldn't be able to keep your jaws from shaking just reading her POV. Thank God its written in first-person so you get to read only her marvellous narrative and no one else's. You'd love her interest in exotic activities, how much like the rest of us she keeps updating her CV to suit popular interests—not interests/hobbies tried per se! Brill! A star.—★★

You won't be able to put this book down if you are a sucker for great  characters! There's Mel, the work colleague who's been in a relationship with Micheal Buble for, like, forever and doesn't think Percy is suited with her boyfriend. There's also Lou, Charlie and Jaye, the three friends since childhood who represent our lead's besties! There's Maggie, our lead's grandmother who dares to play Single Ladies on the day of her wedding (with a younger tattooed man!). There's also Percy's mother who just won't stop meddling. Lots and lots of brilliant characters whom I can't mention. A star.—★★★

You read in so many commercial titles out there that they are such a fun, feel-good, LOL read when most of them are... not so much funny as they claim and you only find witty and funny lines done-before. Well, this book is not one of those! So, yes, this deserves a star!—★★★★

I'm not saying the twist saved this book. Yeah, it was amazing the twist came in. But with or without it, this book would have still been amazing! Plus that one twist sure isn't the end of twists so more reason to go grab this unpredictable title—★★★★★

My rating:  Obviously a five out of five stars!

Just Haven't Met You Yet is available on Amazon. Just go get it and thank me later!

I recommend this book to anyone who just... wants their first funniest read of 2016! Anyone who's been looking for a lead to relate to should just go grab this title. And if you feel like you are the kind no author can knock you off your seat with a twist... well, you are so shallow-thinking... you should go get this!

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Blog Tour: Echoes from Afar by Tamara McKinley

Purchase|Goodreads 

BLURB: A powerful story of love and loss from internationally bestselling author Tamara McKinley.

So this is Paris, she thought in awe. Spread out before her beneath a clear blue sky, it was like a precious gift after the smog and filth of London. No wonder it was called the city of love . . .

After a spiteful rumour ruins her career in London, Annabelle Blake must travel to Paris to start afresh. There she makes the acquaintance of Etienne and Henri - one a poet, the other a painter - both charming, talented and handsome. They spend their days flirting and drinking with the city's artistes and Bohemians, and soon Annabelle too is swept up in the exotic and exhilarating world of 1930s Paris. But as ever more young people are drawn to the fight against Fascism in Spain, Annabelle must wake from the dream and confront the reality of war. A lifetime later, gifted artist Eugenie Ashton falls in love with Paris the moment she sets foot outside the Gare de Lyon. Like her mother Annabelle before her, the artistic delights of the city are a bright new world to her: but Eugenie will soon find that in its shadows are hidden the secrets of her family's past.

My Review.

I liked this book.

Some authors make reading historical effortless and Tamara McKinley has to be one of them. Good storyline for a novel. Paris, a Spanish war, love with a twist of secrets. A star to the storyline.—★ 

The main character Anabelle is someone you'd love! From warzones to battles of the heart, you'd be rooting for her character all through. It helps that her point-of-view has this contemporary fiction bite to it.—★★ 

The locations are enchanting. A nice historical to help you lose your self in Paris 1930s and the warzones of Spanish lands. Tamara Mckinley gives the setting loads of character.—★★

Speaking of characters, I had some all-time faves! There was Aline who reads ... like one of those (cuckoo) psychics waving the giant sleeves of their tunics to beckon you in to their strange homes (—albeit a psychic you love!). You'd also love Henri and Etienne (—So much), two French boys who play a larger part in convincing Anabelle to go for war and one succeeding in conquering her heart. A star to these and all the other superb characters I can't mention (including one obnoxious, bad tempered Parrot).—★★★

The mystery!—★★★★

Echoes From Afar is available on Amazon. Get your copy!

I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good historical (or not!). Anyone who can't drop reading books about 20th Century Paris (without many tourists) would love this. Plus, if you are a fan of Tamara McKinley, I don't believe this is the novel that would get her disappointing you.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Killer Review: The Other Child by Lucy Atkins

*The Killer Reviews are reviews from our feature 'A Killer Season'. To show our love for psychological thrillers we are reviewing psychological thrillers of which much fuss has been made about*

PURCHASE |Goodreads. 

My Synopsis 

Imagine This: You've been swept in a whirlwind romance. And suddenly you are moving from England to the states, with your son from another relationship, carrying a new baby as a sign of your new budding relationship with this hot-shot doctor.

But things in the Boston suburbs are not as they seem. For starters all the other kids hate your son for being having an accent. There are also creepy sounds of someone breaking and entering your new home. You are sure of this. Even though your husband who's mostly away doesn't believe you. Then soon you begin receiving threatening notes and you really feel someone is around every corner watching you.

But of course, you have no idea what the main threat is.

Tess Gallo's life summed up for your delight. 

My Review  

I liked this book.

The storyline is good. It really gives this novel a domestic thriller feel being set in a suburb and all. And who doesn't love a storyline they can all relate to?——★

You'd sympathize with the main character. Her choices are questionable. Because who'd leave dreary London for sweltering Boston (with a man well into his forties who has never married). She's quite a nag though really. Always worrying and going on and on about the same things. But you'd get used to this character flaw. She's only seeking answers to puzzling questions even you can't wrap your head around. A star.——★★

Other characters you'd possibly fall in love with are the deranged, obsessed neighbour next-door Helena, and the best friend Nell back in London who can't help but give our lead more headaches with her persistent habit of going to Google for everything.——★★★ 

As I said, I liked this book. But heck, there were so many twists—it got so much I couldn't wrap my head around it. The blurb says, 'Then she makes a jaw-dropping discovery...' but frankly Tess makes too many jaw-dropping discoveries (that do not change the course of the story) its hard to tell which the writer means. I expected dark, and chilling but this title was nowhere intense as the Atkins' debut.

My rating:  A 3.5 stars.

The Other Child is available on Amazon. 

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a psychological thriller that shares close boundaries with a domestic thriller. Anyone who's in for a book in which they can't figure anything out—highly unpredictable—should go get this

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads and Amazon. 

Blog Tour + Fall Book Review: The Things We Do For Love by Alice Peterson

Purchase|Goodreads 

My Synopsis 

Imagine This: Life has given you too many blows to survive any further. First, your parents were taken away. Your grandparents did a great job raising you—then life has to take the one, most important thing closer to a mum you ever had. 

A whirlwind romance ends abruptly with nothing but a pregnancy you have to face alone.
It doesn't end there. The doctors have more shocking news for you about your baby: cerebral palsy. 

Frankly, if there's any reason to quit living this is it. Watching your child receive odd looks from competitive mothers, watching your child in pain during physio. But you never give up, you want to be the best mum your mother never had the opportunity to be.

With single motherhood, comes the subject of work. Working to pay the bills, working to afford the best treatment for your little girl. Years down the line you have been able to strike the perfect balance between your professional life and your familial one. Your boss is Great, gives you lots of time off. Your daughter is doing amazing, she's coping in a world of perfectly normal kids (and bullies).

But in comes a new boss. A new boss everyone doesn't take a liking to because he puts the, um, slave in the driver(?). A new boss who's moody, and heartless. Most important, a new boss with ghosts to deal with.

You have a chance of helping this new boss let go of the one thing that shattered his past (he's keeping a secret), so you can have your old boss in your new boss again. Everyone at work will be happy, and so will you. 

But are you willing to? Is he willing to let you in? What if you get in too deep?

MY REVIEW. 

I loved this book! So you know in my review I'd be yelling at you to go buy the hell out of it!

Great storyline. It's one of those things about Alice Peterson's novels you can't take away: the Heart. Her storylines are filled with so much heart you can't help but be engaged from start to finish. Cerebral Palsy explored in this writing gives the depth this book needs. Bullying, single motherhood, loss, painful relationships are also some of the tear-jerking worthy subjects explored in this storyline. A star!── ★

You'd adore January Wild. Funny voice. Great mother. Can't hold back the tears. Amazing worker. It's not hard not to relate to her with some of the above subjects explored in this novel. She's gone through so much, she withers from the image of the perfect lead attaining real human-ness of characters you can't help but ask the question: What To Do If I Were In Her Shoes?── ★★

Other characters are also spectacular! There's Lizzie, the humorous friend who offers lots of amazing insight into January's problems. There's also Granny, January's grandma/mother who gives our lead the support and the love she needs through the tough. January's Grandpa is also funny, and loving, and kind and would beat the life out of any man who hurts her granddaughter. There's Luke, the brother who's sort of moody recluse. Graham, the colleague at work who's always down with something. Lucy, another colleague who quite fancies the pants off the new boss while waiting for her boyfriend of many years to propose. Trust, lots of amazing characters I cannot mention for the length of this review. A star!── ★★★★

Humour is another one of those things you would love in this title. I am not sure I said this last year about Peterson's previous novel, but there's this quality her writing has—no suspense, no gripping-ness, it's all just relaxed and calms the reader as they take in the problematic life of her leads. Goes to show, you do not need suspense to keep the reader embroiled. Sometimes the ability of the novel to be satisfyingly moving can just do the trick. A star.── ★★★★★ 

My rating is obviously five out five stars (5/5 stars).

Alice Peterson's novel is available on Amazon. Go get!

I recommend this book to anyone who wants something touching to read this fall. Anyone dealing with a child of rare disability or not should go get this. All mothers (and not mothers yet) out there should go get this title. If you are in the mood for some good romance this title is for you too.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads and Amazon

BLOG TOUR + REVIEW: The Milliner's Secret by Natalie Meg Evans

Purchase|Goodreads 

My Synopsis

Imagine This: It’s 1940s in Paris. You make hats for a living. But your dad is beating the life out of you and taking back all your hard-earned money. How’s that living?

A Londoner, you always imagine yourself living your dream in Paris. You’d escape your dad’s fists. You’d ran to Paris and begin a whole new life out there. Paris, the city of lights with many possibilities.

Except you had no idea how dark your future would turn if you make it into Paris. A one-chance opportunity presents itself, and before you know it, you are waking up in bed in the arms of a married man. In the City of Love, you become a mistress. Ahh, bliss.

Then the Germans invade, sending your life into turmoil. They’d kill any Jew, any Gypsy and definitely any Englishwoman masquerading as French with a new identity. The secret of your nationality, you’d die to keep. Because if you reveal it, you’d die anyway.

But whoever said, this secret is your biggest problem? Soon, you’d have to face devious fashion-rivals, Gestapo, a scorned lover fighting for the enemy, helping friends escape brutality and lots of danger in a city dominated and run by die-hard Nazis. When all this is accomplished, your life, if you ever have one, would never be the same again.

Coralie de Lirac/Cora Masson’s treacherous life summed for your delight.

MY REVIEW 

I loved this book! So in my review, you’d know I’d be yelling at you to go buy the hell out of it along with lots of vintage hats!

Yet again, Natalie Meg Evans wows with a wild storyline set in '40s Paris—a time of war, resistance, and love if you ever have the time! Stunning! I’m fiercely very scared for debut authors releasing a sophomore title. A sophomore title which might not outrun or even match the success of their debut novel. This storyline is a winner, carving out an image for Natalie Meg Evans as a historical romance author who breaks (fashion) boundaries, destroys enemies and neatly weaves romantic plots in Paris during the second world war! I fear no more for Natalie Meg Evans' inevitable success. A star.── ★

I loved the lead! SO, SO much! Very ballsy, very daring, the kind of historical heroine that would grab you right from the start! You’d love Coralie, for the tough decisions she has to make to save herself, her little daughter, and her friends. Her struggle to make it in Paris is so engaging. Then when she finally makes it, her struggle to keep all she has from falling apart would reel you in further. A star!── ★★

Other characters are amazing! You’d love Una Kiplin, the American fast-talking, fashionista who has lots of lovers falling at her feet. You’d love Dietrich, the German-lover who would stop at nothing to protect our lead (then make love to her). You’d also adore, Ramon, our lead’s husband, who’s quite the charmer, given he’s an anarchist (are those types charming at all?). You’d also fall in love with Teddy, the flamboyant art dealer who takes a liking to our lead. Lots and lots of characters in this book you would adore. Even the ones, you’d have to hate—Serge Martel, the shady club-owner who loves to bite off ears in the throes of love-making; Lorrienne, the scorned milliner who would do anything to destroy our lead’s business; Hiltrud, the wife of Dietrich, who would take a journey of vengeance that would leave readers gasping. A star!── ★★★

There’s something about this book I cannot help but bring up. The dialogue! It’s sharp, fast, and very… different. I didn’t really realize that was one of the engaging features of Nat Meg Evans’ writings till I remembered her debut. The Dialogue embodies the beauty of the age Nat Meg Evans writes about—an age of fine sarcasm, an age of witty comebacks and innuendoes stronger than a fist. A star!── ★★★★

There’s suspense that would keep you holding this book. I can vouch that you’d only drop this book only to go get yourself a hat… after you are done reading. There’s also humour to keep you chuckling. A star.── ★★★★★

Very few writers do this: make you forget how excellent their previous title—which was also their debut—was after reading their latest! If you have read The Dress Thief (—if you haven’t, I highly recommend it!), after reading this, you'd be thinking: Debut? What debut?

My rating: Five/five stars!

The Milliner’s Secret is available on amazon.

I recommend this to anyone who wants something historical to get cosy with this summer. Anyone who’s been a fan of Hitler-themed novels should grab this off the shelves. If you also love couture in Paris in the forties, this book is for you. Most importantly, if you want a book with an amazing plot, an engaging heroine, do not hesitate to get this. This is not your average historical romance with leads worrying about how tight their corsets are fancying and not-quite-fancying rogues and knights—if you would pick this title expecting a standard historical read you'd be disappointed! This, is one of the many reasons I love Nat Meg Evans!

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads as well as amazon.

Summer Blog Tour and REVIEW: I Followed The Rules by Joanna Bolouri

PURCHASE|GOODREADS

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine This: You are thriving as a journalist being a single-mum to your adorable daughter of ten. You’ve been single since you dumped your boyfriend—that’s a long time. And that’s fine, really. Who needs a man when you can have sex?

Except you haven’t had sex in a long time.

Now your column in an online magazine is funny and loved by most of your audience who are not leaving shitty comments about your sense of humour being as boring as your writing. Except when these comments are increasing by the day, you are beginning to get worried. And your editor is beginning to get worried about laying you off. Not that she’d care that much, she could replace you with someone funnier (fresh and younger, but no one’s adding that).

You are forced to base your column on a new dating book which every woman considers a dating bible. But according to you it’s actually shit, and sexist and against all feminist principles. How can you not ask a guy out? How can you not be funnier than a guy on a date? How can you not have sex till it’s the fifth date? How are you always supposed to let the man lead?

But your editor wants you following these rules soon and fast and writing on them every week. Because if you do not you should say bye to the job of your dreams, a regular income and lots of time to fit around your daughter.

Before you know it, you are following these rules to the letter; walking all over Glasgow to get asked out by a man, being less funny on dates, laughing at all his unfunny jokes, never swearing, being called sweet by these guys. Sweet! Sweet?!

Then a chance encounter with the writer of this book you’ve been slagging on your blog complicates everything.

Catriona’s funny, complicated, dating-hellish life summarised for your delight.

MY REVIEW

Joanna Bolouri has done it again! Go buy this book or don’t ever return for book recommendations (ever!)

Amazing storyline! After penning a debut such as hers. A debut which should just be your fifth book. The pressure to deliver a stunning book to assure your success wasn’t a one-time-lucky-thing is high. Yet, Joanna Bolouri doesn’t disappoint in her novel. A star to the storyline.── ★

Another character to love! I loved, loved, loved Catriona! Her voice is fresh, funny, sarcastic, witty. She’s all you need from an entertaining lead! You’d love her for her bluntness. Her tendency to cuss a lot! Her amazingly wonderful motherhood skills. Hell, another character by Bolouri I would want to have brunch with! A star.── ★★

Other characters make this book kicking too. There’s Kierran, the funny friend who’s quite sure men who play golf are not right for her friend. There’s Rose, the play-date mother who’s always lonely and offering to meet up. There’s Helen, the sister who’s always forcing Cat to sit through dates with weirdoes and would club anyone who insults Michael Bublé, because he’s a fucking god! There’s Peter, the annoying ex you’d love to hate! There’s also Guy Wright the writer of the Dating Book who infuriates our lead. You’d also love Dylan, the adorable one-night-shag and Grace, daughter who’d just make you want to get yourself knocked up and say, To hell with men, I have my adorable, witty, smart daughter. These characters and more(!!) are amazing and not redundant in anyway. A star.── ★★★

This book is fast-paced! You wouldn’t be able to put it down. I read it all in a day (that’s even because I am a slow reader!). The only time you put it down would be when you realize you need to change out of your underwear—because the chemistry of the lead characters is so electrifying!── ★★★★

It’s funny. I assure you, there’s no paragraph that wouldn’t get you grinning or cackling with laughter. Even if there’s one, you’d find yourself thinking back to the jokes that made you laugh so hard then you’d be laughing again. A star.── ★★★★★

My rating: Five out of five stars!

Get this book on amazon, people! And get her debut too if you’ve not read it—just because it appeared on all the good lists on this blog!

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a lead they would adore! Anyone who wants an actual Laugh-out-loud book (—you know, most books tagged this way are not really, but this is different!). Anyone who wants another title from Bolouri as shedoesn’t disappoint! The perfect beach read.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads and amazon.

Blog Tour: The Other Child By Lucy Atkins

We are celebrating the release of one of my favorite Lucy's new book! Lucy Atkins, whose debut, The Missing One was thoroughly enjoyed by me, is up on our blog discussing her reading life! Find out her book obsession growing up!

My reading life

Ok, so here’s a list of classic books that I did not read as a child:

- Wind in the Willows - Secret Garden - The Hobbit - Anne of Green Gables - Alice in wonderland - The Railway Children - Any of the Famous Five books…

I could go on….It wasn’t that I came from a home of non-readers. My parents are book lovers, and our house was stuffed with books. I didn’t read these books because I was mad about horses, and so from the age of about 6 to 14 I read nothing but Pony books. I can still recite the opening lines of my favourite, Rebel Pony.

My mother was a lexicographer (she wrote the Collins Robert English-French dictionary) and she would come back from book fairs with bags stuffed full of small, hardback pony books that she got for 20p each. I read and re-read those books. My mother sometimes put a different book on my bedside table, but I generally ignored it, and she never made me feel this was wrong. She never pressurized me that I ‘should’ be reading a certain kind of book. She simply enabled my love of pony books. As a result, I came to see all books as magical – feeding my imagination, my dreams, my passion.

I did move on from pony books as a teenager, to novels by Thomas Hardy, DH Lawrence, The Brontes. I didn’t find this a leap because I trusted books to let me in – I wasn’t intimidated by them, because I’d learned that books were my friends. Reading through childhood and adolescence opened up new chambers in my mind. It expanded my vocabulary, it taught me about the world, it introduced me to feelings and concepts I had not yet experienced. But above all, it made me a writer.

I wrote and illustrated my first ‘novella’ – you guessed it, a pony book! – when I was nine years old. My mother laminated it and I still have it. It felt entirely natural to me to write as well as to read. I never thought about it, or questioned it. The two activities seemed like part of the same whole.

I’ve now read those children’s classics out loud to my own three children, who have loved them, but I’ll always be grateful to the pony books of my childhood: they were the greatest gift.

Learn more about Lucy’s books at www.lucyatkins.com Follow lucy on Twitter @lucyatkins. Or Facebook: Lucy Atkins Writer.

Find out more about The Other Child.

Blurb: Sometimes a lie seems kinder than the truth ... but what happens when that lie destroys everything you love?

When Tess is sent to photograph Greg, a high profile paediatric heart surgeon, she sees something troubled in his face, and feels instantly drawn to him. Their relationship quickly deepens, but then Tess, single mother to nine-year-old Joe, falls pregnant, and Greg is offered the job of a lifetime back in his hometown of Boston. Before she knows it, Tess is married, and relocating to the States. But life in an affluent American suburb proves anything but straightforward.

Unsettling things keep happening in the large rented house. Joe is distressed, the next-door neighbours are in crisis, and Tess is sure that someone is watching her. Greg's work is all-consuming and, as the baby's birth looms, he grows more and more unreachable. Something is very wrong, Tess knows it, and then she makes a Jaw-dropping discovery...

Reviews: 'Truly unnerving. The neck-prickling suspense starts on the very first page, building and building until I wanted to get in the car and drive to Boston to rescue Tess and Joe myself. Atkins perfectly captures the vulnerability that comes with moving overseas, away from friends and support networks, and uses it expertly in this compelling novel. Not just one-more-page gripping but perceptive and beautifully written' Lucie Whitehouse, author of Before We Met.

'Taut, tense, and beautifully written. I held my breath between chapters and didn't sleep until I reached the end' Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go.

'Tense, involving and clever. I defy you not to get hooked' Jane Lythell, author of After the Storm.

Purchase| Goodreads| Quercus.

Book View Plus INT. Giveaway: The Missing One by Lucy Atkins

Monday, you all saw my review of Lucy Atkins' debut, The Missing One, Here's a fun feature where I ask the lovely author questions concerning her debut's characters, scenes and everything her debut. READ to the end there might be a gift for you to unveil.

1.    1  Susannah was one of my favourite characters despite being the most deranged (and also oh-so-well-developed). Did you have any inspirations for her creating her character? (real-life or fictional).

She’s one of my favourite characters too. I have no idea where she  came from – there is no real life inspiration. I think that most of us have, at some point or other in our lives, come across difficult, complicated, dangerous women with powerful personalities. She’s a kind of essence of all that!

2.      2. Kali’s sense of motherhood was a striking feature in the novel. How she fought with the arch-villian to prevent the demise of her child was described so vividly. How did you manage to pull off this scene so well? Perhaps you put yourself your character’s shoes or you just watch too much Angelina Jolie flicks?

I am really interested in the power of maternal feelings. I was inspired in fact by a story I read in an American newspaper about a 19 year old singe mother of a baby who had fought off two big guys who broke into her house. The police officer in charge said ‘There’s nothing more dangerous than a mother protecting her child’ and that stuck with me. The lengths we’ll go to to protect our children can be almost superhuman (you hear stories of small women lifting trucks off a child who has been knocked down etc). That’s what I wanted to write about.

3.      3/ Still on motherhood, I find this title would be well-loved by all mothers (new or old). What type of mummy would you characterize your lead as? Is she a manic mummy who spends so much time noting details other mothers would otherwise have ignored? Or would you characterize her as an ignorant mummy. (Whatever your answer is, I’m hoping Susannah would agree).

When it comes to Kali, I think she is a fairly typical, stressed out mum of an active toddler – but her stress of course is made much worse by the fact that her life has collapsed, and she is in this alien place, with a dangerous person. And this is what drives her to make questionable decisions. When it comes to Kali’s mother, Elena, her mothering has been complicated and warped by her own history. She loves her daughter, but the complexity of her history, means she has a hard time showing it.

4.       4. What one tip do you think Kali would give to all mothers?

“Trust your instinct!”

5.     5.  Elena and Kali didn’t have the best mother-daughter relationship. What’s the best tip you would give to all daughters who have the same riotous relationships with their mothers?

Kali is determined not to make the mistakes her own mother made, and not to let the past influence how she mothers her own son. I think this is the strength in her (and also, in a sense, the weakness). She is determined to be a better mother, but of course, she can’t really escape her past, and the way she was mothered. So, where she gets to in the end is a deeper understanding of how her own mother shaped her. This will ultimately enable her to be a better mother to Finn, her son.  I think that’s what we all have to do in a way. By the way, my own mother – I’m very happy to say – was the best and most loving mother I could have wished for!

6.     6 I described your novel as very well-researched in my review. The information about killer whales was lovely to read about. What do you think humans could learn from Killer Whales?

Killer whales are matriarchal for a start!  They are also extremely loyal, with very strong family bonds (and they stay with their mothers for life). They have rituals and traditions and share ‘childcare’. There are numerous ways in which they seem extremely sensibly organized!

7.       7. Which character in your novel are you more likely to be?

I actually don’t feel as if I am any of the characters  - or maybe I am all of them. Even Kali is very different to me. 

8.      8.  Are you working on something new? Could you tell us what it’s about?

I have just finished my second novel, The Other Child, which is set in a suburb of Boston, USA, and is about the devastating secrets inside a marriage.

9.     

 9.  Is there any question you would have wanted me to ask?

Your questions were perfect! Really interesting – thank you so much for having me on your wonderful blog, and for supporting my writing. I hope you enjoy The Other Child as much as you liked The Missing One.

For further information, my website is www.lucyatkins.com. 

People can also follow me on twitter: @lucyatkins or  Facebook: Lucy Atkins Writer.

All the best

Lucy.

To see my review of the amazing The Missing One by Lucy Atkins, click here.

To purchase the amazing The Missing One by Lucy Atkins, click here.

To stand a chance of winning a paperback of Lucy Atkins' debut, RT this on twitter and follow the blog account: @kobbyreviews

Summer Book Review: The Missing One by Lucy Atkins

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine This: Your relationship with your mother hasn’t been all braiding each other’s hair and slagging your father when he’s away for work (—normal daughters and mothers do this! Please review your relationships.). Growing up, both of you fought like crazy, made up like crazy, then within a few seconds were drawing battle lines again.

So when your mother dies, you are the least person to feel sorrow. You are the least person to rethink the happy moments with your mum. You are the last person to jet away to your mother’s past—which she has shut out to you all her life—to go find out why she was the woman you could never get on with. But you do.

Moments later, you are hightailing it to Canada in search of a best friend of your mum who’s been sending her cards a particular day every one of these thirty-eight years they split up without a reply. With your adorable toddler on your back, and a chance to ditch your husband who you’ve suddenly found out might be having extra-marital affairs, you get away from England.

Now your mother’s best friend is rather peculiar, never revealing much, withholding things about your mother’s past from you. Of course, you could consider the journey here all to be a waste and leave, but you feel this woman is hiding something about your mother’s past she doesn’t want to pass on, you have so many unanswered questions you want to see if you could use your skills as an interviewer to goad her into revealing.

Before you realize it’s really a waste to have come, and when you make a decision to leave, this woman has become preoccupied with your little son and has shocking extraordinary plans for him. Plans that would flare up all the maternal instincts in you such that you would do anything to protect your son from this bitch. Even if nothing helps.

Kali’s life-treacherous, suspenseful journey towards uncovering the secrets of her mother’s past summarised for your delight.

My REVIEW

This book is great. One that would consume your time this summer and totally-worth losing the hours for. So well-researched, so well-written, so highly thrilling!

First of all, I loved the storyline. I love the whole mother riding shotgun with her adorable infant to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past. Absolutely fab! You would never underestimate the lengths a mother would go to protect her own child after reading this. And you would adore the weaving of info about captured Killer Whales in parks that would struck an emotional nerve. A star to the storyline.

The main character, Kali, is damn right superb. I loved her to bits. You would also love Kali for worrying about essential details about parenting and mothering that most parents and mothers ignore, her constant eyes on her son, the little mistakes she berates herself daily for like feeding him with fries or not washing a sippy-cup before pouring warm milk in it. She’s the embodiment of a mother constantly looking out for her child even though she admits sometimes she does a shitty job at it. Plus her constant curiosity, making speculations and conclusions with the little info she has about the purpose of her ‘adventure’ makes this title suspenseful.── ★

Speaking on the element of suspense, mystery and the fear of the unknown, I can vouch that this book has all the above. Laden with so much suspense even when the main issue of the plot hasn’t kicked in yet (that is, mother’s best friend endangering her son) you would still find yourself sitting at the edge of your seat and mumbling to yourself, “What the hell.”── ★★

Other characters also make this book a plus as well. There’s Elena, the mother whose backstory is presented in third-person narrative during intervals of Kali’s first-person narrative. There’s Susannah, the once best friend of Elena who’s highly secretive and not giving much away… should I mention deranged too? Alice, the sister who always has a firm perspective of things with her job as a lawyer. There’s also Graham, Kali’s dad who’s also secretive as hell and hiding a chunk of his wife’s past from her daughter—a man who’s (in)actions gutted me so much. A star to these characters.── ★★★

There’s no denying I loved this book. But I found some back-story on Elena’s part unnecessary detail that slowed the pace of this book—some parts were intriguing and important to understand the psyche of a mother who never really showed that much love to her oldest daughter, others were just dragging the story and made me want to quickly get over with it so I could get into the current day life of Kali. Of course, if this book was less suspenseful, I’m not sure I would have been feeling this way, because there would be no eagerness to get on with Kali’s present.── ★★★★

So my rating is a four-point-five stars out of five (4.5 stars).

Lucy Atkins’ highly suspenseful debut (—yes! You heard right!—) which would keep you awake late in the night and wondering when sleep would ever claim you is available on amazon. I totally wouldn’t recommend this book if it didn’t give me headaches for lack of sleep.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants something laden with suspense, anyone who wants something to steal away the hours on a lounger and make tanning for hours seem endurable should get this. It’s the perfect summer read for anyone who wants to feel chilly in these burning hot temperatures.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.

Watch out for giveaway and questions and answers on this book with the author.