The Missing Piece-  Catherine Miller   Women's literary fiction

A book to take to your heart <3 Keisha is a research student doing her Phd

into Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - broken heart syndrome (a real illness

where part of the heart inflates- thought to be due to stress). Her fifth

subject has just been admitted to hospital where he has been diagnosed

with this. Clive is a spritely 79 year old who got home after being at

his allotment to find his back door open and his wife Nancy on the floor

dead. The thing is that he was found near the allotment and as far as the

police are aware he has never been married. No Nancy ,no wife, no

record. Slowly he realises that some of his memories are not of Nancy

but of himself doing things but he is very sure that she did exist. He talks

to Keisha and they strike up a friendship. Keisha is online dating with

the aid of her friend who runs the cafe where she meets the blind

dates- who generally don’t last more than a few minutes before she

makes her escape. George is the male nurse who is looking after

Clive and coincidentally he arrives as date number 40 on the target

of 100. This is one of those books that you just know from the start

that you are going to go through a whole gamut of emotions. From

smiling to laughing, from going awww to more. A treasure of a read 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Book Description:

Broken Heart Syndrome: A sudden and acute form of heart failure, brought on by emotional or physical distress.

After years of studying cardiac medicine, thirty-one-year-old Keisha knows the heart inside out. She knows the average heartrate for each age group, she can name every valve, and she can tell you exactly how much blood it pumps daily.

The one thing she doesn’t know is how to fall in love. And nor does she want to. The secret her tattoo covers is a reminder that the best way to protect a heart is to never let it feel in the first place…

Seventy-nine-year-old Clive is Subject Five in Keisha’s latest research project. He’s been in love since he was seventeen, ever since he met Nancy at a tea dance. But last night, his beloved wife was killed. Suddenly, he has no one to waltz with. He has woken up in hospital, a widower diagnosed with Broken Heart Syndrome.

These strangers, brought together by a broken heart, must face up to the truth of their pasts. Can Clive teach his new friend that until you’ve loved, you haven’t lived? And can Keisha help him see that it’s never too late for a second chance?

For anyone who has ever felt the pang of heartbreak and feared you might never heal again, this beautiful tale teaches us how to dust ourselves off and seek happiness again. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Josie Silver and Rosie Walsh will love this moving and uplifting story.

Author Bio:

When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren’t full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with Carina UK. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016.

Catherine was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons she retired early from this career. As she loved her physiotherapy job, she decided if she couldn’t do that she would pursue her writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 she won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine’s writing competition. Since then she’s had four novels published.

@katylittlelady

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/33XtC9B

 

The Sisterhood- John Nichol-  Crime

Oh what a wonderful read! In a small town in Wales there is a womens refuge

for those who have managed to escape. Run by Ivy who has gone through

her own trauma and hence understands both sides, she is respected by the

police. DI Laura Kesey has her own issues not least of all forgetting her

partner's birthday so is in the dog house when there is a hit and run

that may well have more to it. The victim is a known abuser and whilst

justice has to be done, anyone knowing his crimes wouldn't be

saddened at the news. When another known abuser is killed, albeit

in Cardiff Sergeant Lewis has more than a gut feeling.

Laura meanwhile is suffering at the hands of the misogynistic

DCI Halliday who looks to undermine her for every little thing,

constantly telling her she is not up to the job. I loved this, it's a

serious subject (or two) done in a very different way. The women have

such wonderful camaraderie and you can see their point of view

and how they have suffered. A clever concept, a wonderful read

and one to leave you with a smile. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josh Hartley - non fiction /memoir

A book that for me should be read by as many people as possible to find out

and be more aware of mental health issues and how it can affect the best of

us. I decided to read this as having found out recently that I have had the

black dog by my side for most of my adult life to find out more about

others in the same situation and how they have dealt with it.

I couldn't believe the number of similarities to Josh other than he had

the constant loving care of his mother. This is a warts-n-all story told

by both Amanda and Josh in alternate chapters. Josh was set to have

sparkling A level grades and then a short time before his

exams it was as if his brain went totally blank which was the

beginning of a very dark time. Mental health is now something that is

slowly getting talked about more but we are far from, as Josh says,

having that conversation over the water cooler like we would the

flu- and mental health isn't contagious. He also says that it is so

very hard to describe how we are feeling. To anyone else our darkness

or anxieties don’t make sense. I very much admire Amanda and

Simeon for constantly having the utmost respect for Josh and

his wishes which were shown at all times. When he came home at

his lowest he was allowed to eat “under the duvet” and live in his

very untidy room as to interfere would have distrubed his very

fine equilibrium. This to me shows so much love and care to a

very fragile being. Respecting someone when they are so very low

for me, us beyond words. A book that made me look at myself and

stop. A book that I hope will bring to the masses something that

“isn't talked about''. A book of hope and reality. Of love and

caring and one heck of a journey. Stunning 5*

For more reviews please see my blog

http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Book Description:

Bestselling novelist Amanda Prowse knew how to resolve a fictional family crisis.

But then her son came to her with a real one…

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without

warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point

that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda

Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense

of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for

them during those dark times.

Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health

are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also

hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might

succeed in taking his life.

In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer,

and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak,

sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to

live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain

at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love

for her child.

For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression,

Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope.

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty five novels and seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres.  Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.

 

A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on Channel 5's 'The Jeremy Vine Show' and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national independent Radio stations including LBC and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award while 'Perfect Daughter' was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016.

 

Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...

 

Praise for Amanda Prowse:

 

'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan

'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail

'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!

'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun

'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan

'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat

'Magical' - Now magazine

Author Bio - Josiah

Josh: 

A keen environmentalist and animal lover, Josiah (Josh) Hartley lives in a remote farmhouse in the West Country with his two idle and arrogant French Bulldogs, Dottie and Beau. Happiest following the music scene in Bristol, at a festival or watching rugby with his mates, Josh enjoys the outdoor life and often heads to the sea to surf and sit on the beach watching the sun go down.

After a stint at the University of Southampton, another at the University of Bristol and one planned suicide, Josh decided to write about his descent into mental illness and the depression that held him in its grip for the past few years. The Boy Between carries the overriding message that things can and often do get better. It is a book of reflection, raw, honest and full of hope - the proof being that Josh is still here and excited about what comes next. He’s ready to catch any opportunity that life throws his way; quite a thing for someone who only a few years ago was living in a world gone grey, ready to disappear from the face of the earth…

--  

 

Unbound ties- Liz Mistry-Crime/Police procedural            

DI Gus McGuire is back on the case… only this time he isn't, not really. There has been a

murder where drawing amongst other things were found by the hanging body. A short while

later he discovers his mother has been anonymously sent similar pictures and she thinks

she knows whom they are from. When there are more murders and getting rather close to

home, Gus is off the case and Alice is the new SIO. Chilling alternating chapters take us

to Scotland where someone is incarcerated, someone who knows that bad things must be

happening and who by. This is book seven in the DI Gus McGuire series but does happily

stand alone. I like Gus, he’s one of those real characters and someone you would want

on your side. A sense of humour and a realism that shows superb writing (as ever) by Liz.

A brilliant plot line with turns along the way to keep the grey matter active and keep the

pages turning ever faster. A surprise and a smile. I very much look forward to the next

instalment

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Unbound Ties book 7 in the DI Gus McGuire series DI Gus McGuire Book 7 When the past unravels, all that’s left is death. Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly, When DI Gus McGuire is called out to the murder of a pregnant woman, the crime scene tells him that this killer is not only taunting them … he’s also just getting started. Lavender’s green, With ritualistic precision, the killer has placed a series of clues beneath the victim’s feet. Gus soon realises that these clues link back to his mother’s past as a child in foster care in Scotland. When I am king, dilly dilly, Troubled by his mum’s secrets, Gus is in a dark place. Side-lined from the main investigation, Gus works another murder, not realising that the two are linked and that the killer is closer than he realises … Dangerously close. You shall be queen. Then the killer begins to target people near to Gus. Angry and determined Gus races to unravel the past and catch this sadist before the loss is too much for him to bear. The seventh gripping thriller in the DI Gus McGuire series, for fans of Angela Marsons, Val McDermid and LJ Ross.

Purchase Link - mybook.to/UnboundTies

Author Bio – Born in Scotland, Made in Bradford sums up Liz Mistry’s life. Over thirty years ago she moved from a small village in West Lothian to Yorkshire to get her teaching degree. Once here, Liz fell in love with three things; curries, the rich cultural diversity of the city … and her Indian husband (not necessarily in this order). Now thirty years, three children, two cats (Winky and Scumpy) and a huge extended family later, Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath. Struggling with severe clinical depression and anxiety for a large number of years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits the MA in Creative Writing she took at Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too. Now, having nearly completed a PhD in Creative Writing focussing on ‘the absence of the teen voice in adult crime fiction’ and ‘why expansive narratives matter’, Liz is chock full of ideas to continue writing. In her spare time, Liz loves pub quizzes (although she admits to being rubbish at them), dancing (she does a mean jig to Proud Mary – her opinion, not ratified by her family), visiting the varied Yorkshire landscape, with Robin Hoods Bay being one of her favourite coastal destinations, listening to music, reading and blogging about all things crime fiction on her blog, The Crime Warp. Social Media Links – FB https://www.facebook.com/LizMistrybooks/ Twitter @LizMistryAuthor Website: https://www.lizmistry.com/

 

FIVE LITTLE WORDS by Jackie Walsh -psychological thriller

Laura has just had a baby and lives with her husband in a village in Ireland where everyone

knows everyone else. She is new to the area. Her husband has grown up there and is a

major employer running the local brewery. On the night that Laura’s waters broke a woman

in the village was murdered. Amongst the baby congratulations card is an anonymous one

telling Laura that her husband was the murderer. She hasn't known Conor that long but

knows that it couldn't have been him as he was with her all night. She confides in her sister

Amanda, the only relative on her side she is in touch with as we know Laura had a past-

something she thought she had put behind her and desperately wants to keep it that way.

Who would have murdered Vicky and why involve Laura? I got into this very quickly- to

me a sign of wonderful writing and characters that you take to. There are lots of twists

and turns, curveballs along the way to keep the grey matter active. I raced through

this- always a good sign to me of a great book. I liked Laura and felt for her

predicament. A cleverly crafted well thought out plot and one to keep you

turning. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Book Description:

..Can destroy your life

'Wow, wow, wow, this book had me guessing all the way to the end!' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review

When new mother, Laura Caldwell, opens the card dropped through her letterbox, she expected to see a heartfelt note, congratulating her on the birth of baby Shay.

Instead, she sees a message that makes her blood run cold. 'Your husband is a murderer.' It couldn’t be true, could it? Not Conor, her adoring husband. He couldn’t be behind the brutal killing of local barmaid, Vicky. Not him.

But while Laura fights to discover the truth about her husband, she’s also holding dark secrets of her own; secrets she’s spent years trying to hide. Could the card be a desperate attempt at revenge – or could her husband really be a murderer? There’s a tangled web between this perfect couple – and the truth might just destroy them...

Author Bio:

Jackie Walsh lives in Dublin with her husband Paul and dog Layla. She is a member of the Irish Writers Centre and The Irish Crime writer’s group. After years spent building her own business she decided to take time out and pursue her interest in writing. With a lot to learn, Jackie attended classes, writing groups and travelled to lots of festivals and launches She secured a publishing deal with Hera Books who published Familiar Strangers and The Secrets He Kept in 2019 and Five Little Words in 2020.

Twitter: @JackieWalsh_ie

 

Afternon tea moments for Breast cancer now- recipe book

Afternoon Tea Moments is no ordinary recipe book. Put together by a

breast cancer survivor – twice – and in memory of a close friend who

sadly lost her battle, it is being sold to raise critical funds for Breast

Cancer Now, a national charity with the sole aim of funding research

to help stop any deaths due to breast cancer by 2050.

Afternoon Tea moments has been created from ordinary people from

across the globe for anyone to bake.

Some new and unusual recipes including courgette cake as well as

classics such as Victoria Sponge and Chocolate Brownies. Easy to

follow, a beautiful book to adorn any bookcase or indeed an ideal

gift for family, friends or other "bakers" in your life.

Books cost £7 and are available from this link

https://www.paypal.me/craigandjuliam, and making payment

via PayPal, ensure address/contact details are correct too.