Christmas by the Coast by Mandy Baggot

 

From Goodreads

What would you give for a second chance with the one that got away?

After a terrible heartbreak, Harriet Cookson worked hard to build her life back up. Now she has a dependable boyfriend, a great job and a decent flatshare. But when her beloved grandmother passes away, Harriet drops everything to fly out to the Hamptons to comfort her grieving grandpa.

Christmas is coming and as she arrives on the sandy beaches of her childhood in Montauk, Long Island, Harriet spots someone she never expected to see again – her 'one that got away', ex-soldier Mack Wyatt. Now, Mack is determined to win Harriet back and show her that the life she's been living might be the wrong happily-ever-after.

This Christmas, find out if love letters from the past can pave the way to a brand-new future...

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  This book has been sat on my huge TBR for some time.  I have too many books and never enough time to read them.

Telling the tale of Harriet (Harri) Cookson, as she leaves what she had built up for herself following the heartbreak she had suffered in her past.  She has it all in her opinion, a dependable boyfriend, a job she enjoys and more.  Travelling to the US to console her dear grandfather as her mourns the loss of his wife, her grandmother.

It is not long after arriving in the US, that sees Mack Wyatt, the one that got away.  The one person who she probably didn't want to see again.  But life often has other plans for us and in this case for Harri, it sure did.  

With Christmas coming soon, Harri is in a different country to the one that she expected to be in and her path is destined to cross with Mack.  How will she deal with things and will feelings that she had hidden in the past resurface?  Left to Mack he has plans to try to win her back and try to rekindle what they once had.  

Will Harri remain with her boyfriend or will she realise that the US and Mack may have other ideas for her?

This was a lovely read, that flashes between the past and the present as it weaves the story of Harri and Mack.  You can only imagine what the characters had gone through in the past, that made them make the decisions that they did.  How you would cope with some of what they did, you would never know unless you faced it yourself.   I can fully understand some of the decisions that were made, as you would never want to see yourself as a burden on others.

To find out if Harri and Mack rekindle their feelings that they once had for one another or if fate has other plans for them?  You would need to grab a copy of the book for yourself.

Please note that Christmas themed reads are NOT just for Christmas.

  

 

You Can't See Me (Forbidden Iceland #4) by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir

From Goodreads

A wealthy Icelandic family gathers for a reunion in a remote hotel on the isolated lava fields, but when someone goes missing, dark secrets are exposed and everyone is a suspect … the chilling, gripping prequel to the addictive, award-winning Forbidden Iceland series…

The wealthy, powerful Snæberg clan has gathered for a family reunion at a futuristic hotel set amongst the dark lava flows of Iceland's remote Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Petra Snæberg, a successful interior designer, is anxious about the event, and her troubled teenage daughter, Lea, whose social-media presence has attracted the wrong kind of followers. Ageing carpenter Tryggvi is an outsider, only tolerated because he's the boyfriend of Petra's aunt, but he's struggling to avoid alcohol because he knows what happens when he drinks … Humble hotel employee, Irma, is excited to meet this rich and famous family and observe them at close quarters … perhaps too close…

As the weather deteriorates and the alcohol flows, one of the guests disappears, and it becomes clear that there is a prowler lurking in the dark.

But is the real danger inside … within the family itself?

Masterfully cranking up the suspense, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir draws us into an isolated, frozen setting, where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted, as the dark secrets and painful pasts of the Snæberg family are uncovered … and the shocking truth revealed.

My thoughts

This was a book that I picked up from my local Library.  Having read and enjoyed one of the previous books in this series by this Author, I was keen to see what happened in this one.  Whilst this is the 4th in the series, it is actually marketed as a prequel to the series.

Set in a remote futuristic hotel in a remote area in Iceland, the Snæberg family are hosting a family reunion.  Like may families, this family has secrets hidden in the past, that they may prefer were kept in the past.  Will the past come back to haunt them and are  the secrets that are hidden in this family, going to come back to haunt them?

I enjoyed this book, I found the characters well written and the storyline drew me in.  The Icelandic setting made me want to be there in the hotel with them, I have no idea which member of the family I would like to have been..  I would love to visit Iceland and see the countryside in all it's glory.

I am looking forward to reading another book by this author.

The Chamber by Will Dean

From Goodreads

And Then There Were None meets The Last Breath in this tense and suspenseful locked-room thriller that takes place inside a hyperbaric chamber from the author of the “brilliant, twisted, and oh so clever” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author) novel The Last Thing to Burn.

Six experienced saturation divers are locked inside a hyperbaric chamber. Calm and professional, they know that rapid decompression would be fatal and so they work in shifts, breathing helium, and surviving in hot, close quarters.

Then one of them is found dead in his bunk.

With four days of decompression to go before the locked hatch to the chamber can be safely opened, the group must watch one another’s backs at all times. And when another diver is discovered unresponsive, everyone is on edge. What…or who…is taking them out one by one? And will any of them still be alive by the time the four days is up or will paranoia, exhaustion, suspicion, and pressure destroy them all?

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was a claustrophobic read, that had me engrossed in the lives of the occupants of this hyperbaric chamber.  What a lot of twists and turns you are taken on as the author draws you into the lives of the divers, that are soon wondering what the hell is happening to them and all they want to do is get OUT.

Who can they trust, can they trust one another, can they trust the people that they are communicating to above the water?  It is so hard to know WHO to trust?

Once again Will Dean has written a great read that in many ways can be called a modern Agatha Christie style read, as it has been compared in some reviewers as being similar to And Then There Were None.  I can see why that comparison has been made, but to divulge that reason would be to give too much away.  If you are looking for a read that will make you feel that you are experiencing the lives of the characters with them, then this book will fit that bill.  I certainly felt that way and was longing to escape the confines of 'The Chamber', at my earliest convenience..

An excerpt from the book that resonated with me. 

'Jumbo scratches his ankle down by his Sonic tattoo and complains he cannot remember his PIN code, his daughter's birthday or his new mobile number. This is what they call 'bubble brain'. Too many sat hours affect our minds in some strange and undocumented ways.'

Having had children in the past I can empathise with the 'bubble brain' phenomenon to some extent, as I suffered with 'baby brain' and in my latter years have had 'menopause brain'. 

The Last Breath Before Death (an Extract blogpost) by Alan Golbourn

From Goodreads

‘The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.’ — Origen

Vampires, ancient folklores, and the ultimate act of betrayal. In this dark horror tale ... 🦇

From the Back Cover

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

A missing brother … An imminent phenomenon …

Award-winning comic book illustrator and artist Jimmy Cochran is also a freelance reporter in New York City, specialising in the supernatural. Upon hearing that his estranged brother, Quentin, has gone missing with his best friend over in Germany, Jimmy becomes concerned — unable to shake off the feeling of foreboding and dread. Things worsen when he quickly learns that the missing two are in great danger from an unequalled evil, which is connected to an upcoming, ominous and phenomenal event.

A mysterious ‘man’ with a terrifying tale …

With time running out, Jimmy investigates further, in spite of the strong warnings and the danger to his own life — particularly after he is contacted by a peculiar and mystifying man with a horrific, nefarious past of his own, linked to old Serbian and German folklores and a sinister, secret brotherhood.

My thoughts

What's not to love about Vampires?  Well there's plenty of things that we could give as answers.  What's not to love about  thrillers/  They may not be everyone's cup of tea.  However, this reader is a sucker for both vampire and thriller reads, excuse the pun.

The Last Breath, combines both these genres in one and I look forward to reading it soon.

At the moment though, I thought I would just do an extract blogpost, as the author Alan Golbourn was kind enough to send me a review copy to read and review.

Extract

' Naeem heard a slight rattling sound. He then saw Jimmy pull something out of his jacket pocket. “Keys?”

“They’re my skeleton keys.” He gave a crafty smile. “There’s some lockpicks here, too.” 

 “Aren’t they illegal?” 

 “Technically speaking, no. I guess it depends on who you ask, where you use them!” 

 “Where did you get them?” Naeem took off his cap, revealing his bald head. He gave his shiny scalp a scratch. 

 “I’ve had them for years. I used to know a locksmith back in the States. Let’s just say that the keys have got me into ‘certain’ places, helping me obtain information for my freelance reporting.” Jimmy winked. 

 “Best I don’t ask anything else, then!” Naeem half-grinned, placing his cap back on. 

 Jimmy started trying out the keys. “It can require patience at times. And there’s a technique to using them … Airport security never queried them much, either. To them, they are just keys, which you can take on a plane. I don’t even need to use the lockpicks at times … Bingo!” '

This reader is keen to find out what the skeleton keys open, what about you?  If you are, then you will be able to find this book from book retailers and Amazon.

Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot #10) by Agatha Christie

From Goodreads

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the famous Orient Express in its tracks as it travels through the mountainous Balkans. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year but, by the morning, it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

One of the passengers is none other than detective Hercule Poirot. On vacation.

Isolated and with a killer on board, Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again.

My thoughts

When I looked on Goodreads, I saw that I actually first read this book back in 2015.  At the time I gave it 4 stars and said that I would review it, but for some reason I never did!  I have recently read it again for my local Library reading group.

So finally here it is, my thoughts on this crime story featuring Hercule Poirot by this prolific murder mystery writer .Agatha Christie.  Her books draw you in and make you almost feel as though you're actually there and could so easily be a potential suspect. Whilst I have read the book previously and seen many film versions, my enjoyment of the reread wasn't hampered in any way at all.

Set on the Orient Express an American tycoon is found dead and has been stabbed a dozen times.  The story has a huge cast of characters and any one of them could be the killer.  To find out what has happened you will have to grab a copy for yourself as I am not going to tell you!

ETA

My reading group loved it.  They gave it an 8.5/10 (we mark out of 20) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Leave No Trace (Kat & Lock #2) by Jo Callaghan

 

From Goodreads

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

My thoughts

This was a book that I grabbed from my local Library.  I had previously read and enjoyed In the Blink of an Eye (Kat & Lock #1).  The first foray into the world of DCS Kat Frank and her AIDE Lock.  It was a world that introduced us to Lock the world's first AI Detective.  One detective carrying out her work based on instinct and the other carrying out his based on logic and all things technological.

In this story Kat is thrown into the spotlight with Lock as they are given the task of trying to find out what has happened to a man that has been found killed and crucified at the top a local hill known as Mount Judd.  When another man is also found in a similar way, it appears that this may not be a random act and it may be a serial killer or killers carrying out these atrocities.  Can Kat and Lock find out who is doing this before anyone else is involved or will someone else sadly lose their life?

Kat and Lock have an unusual working relationship with one of them not being human.  Kat finds it easy when she does not want  to take notice of Lock, as all she has to do is switch him off. This is something you are not able to do when working with humans.  I feel the author has created a believable world between the two characters and it makes me wonder how I would cope working with an AI form.

I am really enjoying this series , I can't wait to see where the author takes us on her journey with Kat and Lock as I feel they may have many crimes to solve in the future.  

Lights Out by Louise Swanson

From Goodreads

A state of emergency has been declared in the UK.

From now on, at 8pm every night, all electricity cuts out.

The Government promises it's a temporary measure. They promise they are always thinking of your safety.

But for Grace, the darkness is anything but safe. Someone is coming into her house under its cover every night while she lies in bed upstairs, too terrified to sleep. Someone who knows her past, who knows why she has more reason to fear the dark than most...

And every morning she wakes to a new message.

I have you in my sights, Love, The Night.

But how can Grace escape, when there's nowhere safe left to hide?

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange of an honest review.

This book was beginning to burn a hole in my TBR (To Be Read) mountain.  I am a sucker for books by this Author, there I have admitted it.  She is my addiction, I just have to read what she writes as I find her writing so compelling and she knows how to draw the reader into the world that she has created among the pages.

Grace is living in the UK, the Government have declared a state of Emergency and between certain hours of the day all electricity is cut in order to preserve the supply.  From now on after 8pm at night the electricity is to be cut.  Promises have been made that this is a temporary measure, but can the Government be trusted as they're very good at making promises, BUT not keeping to them!

Grace is convinced that someone has been coming in to her house, during the dark hours as she id waking up to messages that have been left.  Who is leaving the messages and what do they know about her past?  As some of the messages have been cryptic in there content.

Lights Out is definitely a book set in the dystopian genre, but the World that we are currently living in compared to when some of us were younger, could quite easily be called a dystopian world.  With lockdowns and pandemics having been the norm for us for the last few years, we could all see how easily we could slip into a world where it's Lights Out at a certain time for whatever reason we are told by those that must be obeyed.

This was a claustrophobic read in many ways, as it plays on the claustrophobia that the dark can cause on people that are afraid of it.  Whilst I don't have any fears of the dark, I must admit that I do like to have the  doors locked when it's dark as you can't see who is out there.

The characters were well developed, the storyline had me gripped from start to finish as I tried to process what was happening and what may have struck some fear into Grace after having read the notes.

This would make a great reading group read, with there being many things that a group could discuss.