***********My Top Reads of 2020***********

The books below have all earnt my special 5**- the ones that left a

memory, that something special above and beyond.They are only in

 the order that I read them through out the year and the full review 

is in the link to each one. A mixture of emotional and inspiring,

 tears and laughter. 

1. The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright- Beth Miller- Womens humerous fiction

Oh I loved this beyond words. I believe that there are parts of this that most

women will relate to. For me it was something along the lines of “ I am now

free of the shackles that I have worn forever” which took my breath away.

A poignant read and an emotional one. Beautiful doesn’t do it justice.

If you read just one book about life make it this one.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-missing-letters-of-mrs-bright-beth.html

2. Four Minutes to Save a Life- Anna Stuart

I laughed and yes I cried (a lot). It took me to places

I had long forgotten and they were happy tears - thank you. If you read just one

book to restore your faith in human nature then this would be the one for me.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/four-minutes-to-save-life-anna-stuart.html

3. Liars- Patricia Dixon and Anita Waller-Psychological thriller

Oh wow! So very well described, each emotion and feeling is tangible

on the page. A story of love and friendships, of presumptions

and lies. I smiled and I cried. Stunning doesn’t do this justice

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/liars-patrica-dixon-and-anita-waller.html

4. Survive- Tom Bale - Psychological Thriller

Wow! I loved this, so much as to say one of the best books I have read this

year. . I took to the characters and whilst thinking what I would  have done

may be slightly different (don’t we all?) was totally gripped by their strategies.

Think “ I’m a celebrity” but where the prize is survival……

One stunning gripping read. 

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/survive-tom-bale-p-sychological.html

5. My book of the year ***************************

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle Literary Fiction

Oh boy! I knew from the blurb I was likely to enjoy this, what I wasn’t prepared

for was that even just a few pages in that I would be so engaged with Hubert.

When passing someone, instead of nodding hello, maybe pass the time of day albeit

briefly. Even just a few kind words may mean the world to someone and change

their day- we don’t know what they are going through. I really didn’t want this

to end. A book I have taken to my heart. Loved it really doesn’t cover it. 

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/all-lonely-people-by-mike-gayle.html

6. Slow Slicing - Tony J Forder- Crime

Bliss has humour, a little romance and much camaraderie and banter with

Chandler and the rest of his team. There is a very human touch to Tony’s

books which for me is why they come across so very well- it's not just a

plot and someone doing their job as such. I loved the references back

to Molly- a special character in the last book.  My avuncular

friend and a couple of words to describe reading this-pure  Bliss. 

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/slow-slicing-di-bliss-7-by-tony-j.html

7. #Metoo- Patricia Dixon - domestic noir/psychological thriller

This is partly based on a true story, the author forward tells us that although

shrouded in fiction the premise is true and this is dedicated to all victims,

something that gave me a shudder when I read the author forward (there

is nothing too descriptive in the book to upset anyone). I liked Billie and

her determination and felt for her angst in playing her part. 

A truly brilliant read that had my emotions all over the place. Stunning

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/me-too-patricia-dixon-psychological.html

8. Life After You- Sian O'Gorman- Womens fiction

A story to reaffirm

life , what matters and being true to your heart. Of treasuring precious memories and

not letting anything get in the way (there is very good advice about anxiety- I tried it

and it does work- thank you). For anyone who has lost someone very dear to them,

know that they are around and always in your heart. A very special book that left

me with a smile and a tear, of joy and memories.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/life-after-you-by-sian-ogorman-what-if.html

9. Half a World Away- Mike Gayle contemporary fiction 

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/half-world-away-mike-gayle-contemporary.html

I blubbed my way through the last 25% and through the tears saw

the message of hope that like the words in a stick of rock goes solidly

through your books. That the world has its ups and downs ( and

boy are there some bumps along the way) but through it all, it's

how people are that counts. Not their standing in life, or what they

have achieved or are dressed in, but what is in their

hearts and how they treat others that truly makes the world go

around.  Not all of us have had loving parents or love,support or

encrouagement- only perhaps finding this 

later in life and wow, what a difference it makes to the world.

You can't change the world but the world can change for someone

with a kind word or gesture.  Thank you. My heart is singing through

the tears and every time I see something glittery, I  know that there

is love and hope out there. A truly stunning

read and one I will remember for a very long time.

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

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-boy-between-by-amanda-prowse-and.html

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. 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

11. Resistance- Patricia Dixon-Historical/contemporary  fiction 

I was very moved by the original Mauds words to Dottie:

“Will you do everything you can to be happy, live your life how you want to… Don’t be

shackled by anything or anyone or let prejudice or bigotry hold you back or taint your

dreams” . Words we perhaps all should live by, some of us having been unknowingly

shacked for most of our lives and only once they are removed do we realise that they

were there at all. I'm not normally into historical fiction however this as also set in

current times worked brilliantly and I found reall;y interesting- the sign to me of a very

well thought out and crafted book. A stunning, captivating read that had me gripped

within its pages. Dottie I will always remember and I learnt a little too, not only about

the war but about myself. I’ll leave you to ponder that one.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/09/resistance-patricia-dixon.html

12. Home Stretch- Grahman Norton - literary fiction

I quickly got into this as I did with Graham's other novels as there is an ease of writing

and although quite a few characters they come across incredibly well. You could well

imagine being in an Irish bar with many of them.; It made me slightly wistful, a sense of

what could have been or should have been perhaps, in a very different way. A story of

love between family members and wrong being put right of a sort. Dans wedding speech

had me pretty much in tears, and then reading after the final sentence “ Hodder and

Stoughton…was founded by two young men who saw that the rise in literacy would

break cultural barriers” OMG. One stunning read and one I will remember.

A treasure of a book.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/home-stretch-graham-norton-contemporary.html

13. Forgive Me by Susan Lewis -womens psychological fiction

 

Wow! What a powerful and interesting way to put Resorative justice across.

For those not in the know this is where, in the right circumstances

(very much analyzed before hand), the victim(s) of crime meet

the perpetrator with the end goal being that there is benefit and closure for

both parties- a controversial topic of conversation Im sure- but this story does

show how it can very much be used for the good and from personal

experience I can see that it would, for me, have brought some closure and

possibly healing. This made me smile and it made me cry.

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/search?q=forgive+me

14. They Disappeared- Joy Ellis-Crime

An excellent very well thought

out plot and characters you can’t help but take to. A mystery to keep the

grey matter active and nothing untoward too grisly and ghastly

(other than the odd murder!).

A stunning read, I thoroughly enjoyed it- possibly the best of Joys books

to date- and the rest are all 5*!

15. THE VISITORS by Miranda Rijks-psychological thriller 

OMG! This put me on the edge of my seat and wanting to stay up all night

to finish it!  Wow! If you like a read to take over your life for a few hours then

read on. One to slightly unnerve you and make us realise that

life can turn on a knife edge. Brilliantly written, I liked Hannah and

sympathised with her situation. A very clever, inventive plot- a

true knicker gripper!

https://nickibookblog.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-visitors-by-miranda-rijks.html