Nicki's book blog

  The Girl She Left Behind by Jo Bartlett *trigger warning- mentions of suicide  This tells of two sisters with a self centred mother. One sister Lucy, who has a daughter, has gone missing, the other one Phoebe is left wondering if she has committed suicide due to the note she left and where her coat was found. She knew Lucy didn't want their mother to get her hands on her young daughter Darcy in the same way she had affected them all their lives. Phoebe returns from her life in London, she had tried to get away from the long claws of narcissism and now wonders if she is cut out to look after young Darcy, but soon finds a side of her she didn't know existed. Her mother however can't help but interfere which muddies the waters of the search and where on earth is Lucy? For anyone who isn't aware of the effects a self centred mother can have, this brings it home as it's well researched and there are certain tells The little things such as not having any pictures of t

  A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer -Crime   DCI Kate Young book 5- stand alone (I hadn’t read the others- yet!) Wow! One of the most cleverly constructed crime novels I have ever read. DCI Kate Young has a secret. Something happened a while ago and someone out there knows her secret. She is determined to try and unearth the mystery surrounding the death of the Superintendent. A police officer has been incarcerated for another death but contacts Kate as she is sure that she has been set up? Kate wonders if the syndicate she has been trying to find out more about are responsible for both acts. Meanwhile there is a body found on a building site, from the looks of things a wealthy young woman who is pregnant. Acting DI Emma Donaldson has this as her first major case and is instantly very much in at the deep end as there is little to go on. Two parallel crimes give the reader a stunning read, almost two books in one. This is the first book by Carol that I've read- and it won’t be the las

  The Last Days of You and Me by Debbie Howells- General Fiction/Women's fiction Rae runs a bookshop which she really enjoys. Marnie is running her friend's hotel temporarily. She was living in Spain until she split with her boyfriend. She's a travel writer by trade and it isn't long before she sets off on a new trip, one about quiet places. She’s been getting headaches and is awaiting results of a blood test. She’s trying to put things off but knows she really shouldn’t. Forrest is a lawyer who has just lost his best friend in a car crash. Their lives intertwine in a story about the fragility of life and love. Oh boy! It's poignant, it's raw, it's blooming emotional. Tissues at the ready. Of one life, live it and making the most of every day, we don't know what may be around the corner. Appreciate the moments big and small. Have we lived before? Who knows? A stunning read, one that took my breath away. Very highly recommended.  For more reviews please

  Driven To Murder by Debbie Young- cozy crime This is part of a series but happily stands alone (I hadn't read any of the others). Sophie works in a bookshop and cafe with her boyfriend Hector whom she is about to go into partnership with. Hector thinks Sophie should learn to drive especially as it appears that the local bus service is being axed and there are no alternative means of transport in the area. Sophie has passed her theory but is terrified of taking to the open road and does her level best to dissuade him. There are protests and meetings about the proposed cancellation but when a body is found on the bus, things have perhaps gone a step too far. Who would do this and why? This is a wonderful easy read with a smile along the way. I liked Sophie and her interactions with the other characters which came across very well. It's a relaxing read and one I looked forward to diving into, the time slipped away as I did so. A well thought out plot and a delightful one. For mo

  An Aura of Mystery by Joy Ellis- Crime Ellie is driving home when suddenly a young man appears on her windscreen. She inevitably crashes and is badly injured. Whilst the doctors can heal the broken bits what no one anticipated was that Ellie was given a gift from her brain injury. Her close friend Carole knows all about this and looks after Ellie when she is both in hospital and discharged and nurtures and hones her new found skill. When there is a third murder where the police have little to go on, through a chance prior encounter, DCI Bob Foreman calls on Ellie for help.  Oh wow! This is a very different read for anyone who is a fan of Joy’s books- but in a very good way. There is the usual cracking plot and very likeable characters but this time there’s a pinch and a twist of other genres thrown in, very skilfully done. This was written around twenty years ago (and hidden away) and reflects the era when things were less techy which is a wonderful change making for a more relaxed a

  The Last Resort by Heidi Perks-crime thriller   Erin has been hit by a car and is in the hospital. Six months earlier, she and her husband are going through counselling as there is something not quite right in their marriage and relationship. It began the day their dog disappeared although Erin feels it was when Will was putting a necklace around her neck, for some reason she flinched and didn't quite know why. Maggie, their therapist, finds that she has one playing against the other, almost a game of “ he said, she said” and is not sure which one is telling the truth. Speaking of truth, Maggie has her own demons- her sister was murdered and the man jailed for it, who admitted his guilt, has asked to see her. She feels his reason for this is that his parole is coming up but she herself has her own secrets about what really happened that night. Who was really responsible and has Erin been deliberately hit - why was she near the woods so late at night?  A book that grabbed me from

  My Lying Husband by E.V Seymour-psychological thriller            Lance confesses to his family that all is not well financially after two of their cars had been taken away and his step son was hit as the lenders were not what you would consider legit. He bans the family from going to the police as this could only make things a whole lot worse. Susannah, his wife, is thinking of everything she can to try and repay the loan until he tells her just how much it is and gaining speed. Susannah herself has a secret but finds more and more lies that her husband has told. Amy lives with Rollo who had promised to buy her a house, rather than rent as they currently do. He is making every excuse not to do so and switches from telling her he is rolling in cash to being awkward. What is he hiding?  Each chapter tells the story from a different character's perspective (putting this as a heading on each one would have been beneficial). Can the family find a way out of this terrible predicament

  One Year After You by Shari Low- Women’s Fiction A year ago a man died in a car crash leaving his wife and best friend bereft. What they also found out that day as the woman was giving birth was that her husband and his wife had been having a long term affair. Noah and Tress had always been friends with their respective partners and now they lean on each other to get through this, but strictly as friends, nothing more. Anya, Noah’s wife, moved away as they divorced, unable to face the consequences of what she had done but now she is back wanting to talk to Noah. Meanwhile Odette is facing her last scene in a soap, unceremoniously sacked after forty years playing the same part, a part that she got through subterfuge and hasn't told a soul. Noah’s sister Keli, has been ghosted by her boyfriend. A text from an unknown number soon shows her why but she has other issues involved. Can all of these people sort things out in twenty four hours or will some secrets have to remain buried?

  More Life as a Dog by LA Davenport- memoirs/humour This is the second in the series (both happily stand alone) about Kevin the dachshund, the “meat seeking missile” and his adventures with his human. Human has a new girlfriend and it’s a nervous time when Kevin is taken to be introduced to her dog. Will he behave or let them both down? This is written in the first person from the humans point of view and tells of outings they have such as a trip back to London after a day out,  but turned into an adventure due to running out of petrol. From meeting Amy Winehouse to poor Kevin being kicked there are the highs and lows of their lives. This is a fun,  light hearted read especially for any dog lover.  Although told from the human perspective, it's told with Kevin at the heart of things. It's heart-warming, it's very touching and also that for some of us, we have overcome much due to having that canine companion at our side. A short, beautiful read. One for over a coffee or t

  Over the Garden Fence by Karen Louise Hollis- women’s/contemporary fiction Janice and Molly are neighbours and during the pandemic found that sitting outside in their gardens chatting over the wall, at a good distance did them no end of good. They decided that each year they would do this from the 1st June until it got too cold to carry on and then indoor chats would take over. They have been friends for many years and know each other pretty much inside out. This summer they have decided that despite their mature years they should try and go out more. There are lots of trips for the elderly that take their needs into consideration. A day trip to Scarborough becomes a blast from the past for Janice and could change things, thanks to a little help from the younger generation assisting with technology and bringing the ladies into the 21st century. I really enjoyed this. It's a wonderful light-hearted read that maybe reminds us of Carpe diem. Seizing the day shouldn't wait until