Nicki's book blog

  If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O’Gorman- Women’s fiction Alice has returned home from Australia for a month’s holiday. She misses Dublin and her childhood friends but loves the life she has on the other side of the planet- the sun and the beach. She helps out in the local shop owned and run by her mother Ciara, and finds herself a whizz at marketing, bringing new customers to the shop and encouraging old ones to spend more time there as well as money, which is a good thing as it had been getting a little stale. Her friend Mary-Marg suggests they bring back the disco they ran when at school. Will the over 45’s be up for a night with a disco ball? There are relationships that have soured over the years and secrets being held close to the owners chests. This is a beautiful Irish story of friendships and adventures, perhaps of the small variety. Of how the little things can mean the most  and that a good friend is a real gem. As with all of Sian’s books the characters come ...

  The Many Futures of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson- women’s fiction Laura has a rare talent. One for getting the reader between the pages very quickly, a cracking plot and characters you would like to meet in real Life. Maddy has a gift, or is it? When having sex she can see ten years into her future and if that person is with her or not. This puts her off having boyfriends for a long time but when she meets Oliver when looking for accommodation, who by chance she briefly worked with , things change. When she meets Isla in her future, Maddy knows she has to work things out which isn't going to be easy.  This is a stunning, uplifting read and one I devoured. It's a very comfortable, at times emotional, read and one that perhaps makes the reader reflect on their own lives a little and to appreciate the moment. One I wanted to read “ one more chapter” and another and another……Loved this doesn't do this justice. Stunning, brilliant, clever and most certainly memorable. 5 stars r...

  A Guilty Woman by Charlotte Barnes-psychological thriller Oh wow! A premise that blew me away (along with the victim!) and fascinated me. A woman is in a bar with her boyfriend. She starts the socially perfectly normal interaction with her boyfriend  and as they have drinks, reaches for her handbag , pulls out a gun and empties the whole barrel into him. On reaching the police station and her solicitor ( whom she has the funds for a very good one), she proceeds to plead not guilty. Occasional chapters give us a podcast of a true crime series covering the trial and takes us more into Carolines life. Blimey Riley! One where I held my breath and was beguiled by the plot. I quite liked Caroline, other than the fact of what she had done, as she seemed grounded and realistic (hope that makes sense?) and very calm through the whole thing- as if carefully planned perhaps? Caroline is an author and her writings take on a whole new meaning. A fantastic twist puts things into place… I ...

  The Old Girls' Chateau Escape by Kate Galley- Women's Fiction Gina’s husband left her for another woman and at 71 Gina is rather upended. That is until she meets Dorothy, a sprightly 89 year old who has rather more than a spring in her step and attitude to life. They get on famously (Old Girls behaving badly book) so when Dorothy suggests Gina takes on a temporary role to look after one of Dorothy’s old friends, Meredith and her husband, she happily agrees, however Dorothy wants Gina to do some sleuthing. Over fifty years ago there was a group of friends who did something that should really stay in the past, however Meredith wants to publish a book and Dorothy doesn't want a starring role in it. Hopefully Gina can find out more and keep Dorothy's anonymity. Although the second in the series this happily stands alone. I adore this series. It's a great mix of humour, drama and more. Both Dorothy and Gina are great characters in differing ways and have those qualiti...

  The Soulmate by Rona Halsall--psychological thriller Holly has escaped from her boyfriend Finn for a few hours and sees a man playing the piano. In a past life Holly, as she is now, loved music and can’t help but sing along with him.  They go for a coffee before Holly has to get her train back and ensures that the performance stays private, away from any social media. Finn is rather controlling and she already has bruises. Mark is smitten and is determined to help her but doesn’t realise quite what he is getting into. When Holly steals herself into his car things take rather a turn. OMG! Who to trust? I thought I liked certain characters to begin with (clever writing!) and then found myself rather unsettled as to who was the good guy or the bad. This is a read with lots of twists and turns and it made for one heck of a read. Fiction is just that and doesn’t always have to follow real life but who knows what goes on behind closed doors? It's clever, it's very very engaging an...

The Workshop by Stewart Giles- Crime There’s a chop-shop called the workshop somewhere in the York area, which isn't about vehicles,  and DS Jason Smith is hearing things about it when the torso of a person is found- something so horrid, even the SOCO’s are grimacing. It appears there is a profitable trade in body parts and young people are being taken for what can be harvested. When an ex-con appears to have more information than he is letting on, Smith and Whatton take a trip to find out more. The big boss has had his precious range rover stolen and wants this to be the focus of investigations but murder takes precedence.  OMG.  I was shocked to learn that selling body parts is still legal in some countries. Stewart does his research very well and despite a gruesome premise this is a highly gripping read. The camaraderie between the characters is wonderful and I love Jason’s way of saying things exactly how they are, very little filter if any, but with a heart of gold a...

  Sweat by Emma Healey- mystery/ thriller Cassie split from her boyfriend Liam a while ago as he was obsessive and controlling and whilst she liked the transformation of her mind and body, he took things too far. She now works at a gym as a trainer and they have just opened up to be more inclusive to those with disabilities. She is taken aback to find her first of these clients is none other than Liam who now claims to be blind, something Cassie doesn't quite believe at first. She changes her name when around him and her intonation to disguise her voice and does occasional  things to check if he is really blind. We find out more about how controlling Liam was and what lengths he would go to, to spy on Cassie. This is a story about a control and in parts an abusive, toxic relationship. Cassie has managed to take the step to freedom and is now torn between doing the right thing and getting revenge. There are two timelines, one of the relationship in the past and the current one ...

  The Cleaner by Mary Watson- mystery thriller Esmie has arrived in Ireland to find out more about what really happened to her brother Nico who is currently at home in a coma. She inveigles herself as a cleaner for three houses who are related in one way or another by orchestrating an accident. Once in the houses she watches the occupants and finds a few things which may or may not relate to Nico. She hides her relationship to him from all of the occupants and does her best to make herself indispensable so that she can watch even more of the happenings.  This is a cleverly written and very well thought out book. I'm smiling writing this as there’s a certain something between the pages that kept me turning without really knowing why if that makes sense? A spellbinding quality about it and perhaps unease of someone being deceptive and creeping around, investigating drawers and laptops and more in a world where she is almost invisible being “ just” the cleaner. I understand that...

  Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran- women’s fiction   Emmie runs what was her mothers pasty kiosk in her local airport, something she has done for years. Unfortunately this is all consuming and doesn't leave her any time for herself. Her friend Blessing is doing her best to move Emmie out of the staid clothes and shoes she wears, let alone have some down time or even some fun. A frequent flyer visits Emmie to get pastries and Blessing senses there is possibly more to this. Emmie loves Pip’s visits but hasn't time to do anything about it- especially when he lives on a small island and is committed to looking after the family farm- something he has been studying to do. When a chance encounter with a stranger gives Emmie a win, she takes life in both hands and flies for the first time. She also has a mission - to find out more about some letters of her late mothers that don’t quite make sense to her. Can Emmie solve the puzzle and at the same time find the real Emmie? Oh wow!...

  Onwards and Upwards by Celia Anderson-women’s fiction Ingrid has just moved into Willowbrook on a temporary lease  in order to sell her late husband's things and move on quietly. Her husband was an auctioneer and hence she had lots of boxes of things he couldn't sell at auction to try and  get rid of, so she thought she would rent a shop, make a little money and then find elsewhere to live. Willowbrook however has its own ideas and the Saga Louts soon welcome her into their fold as does Joel, a local handyman who helped her move in. She soon finds herself ensconced in new friends and more. This is an endearing read, one perhaps to restore faith in human nature. There is no great drama about it other than one thread which is dealt with by Ingrid in a very matter of fact way despite seething under the surface at first, it’s a story of the goodness of strangers who quickly become friends. A different, very enjoyable read. A calming hug of a book.  For more reviews pl...

  The Bookseller by Tim Sullivan- Crime A man is found killed in the flat of his father whom he was checking on after a trip away. George Cross isn't quite like any other detective, he’s one in a million. George has Asperger's which means he sees things differently to others and can't settle until the truth is found- which has made him a highly, if slightly unpopular detective with those that don’t understand him. His father is about to go for an operation and as ever George has numerous questions before he can let it settle. The case has little to go on, but as ever George and team research and find the little things that can lead to cracking the case wide open.  I can't help but love George. He says what we all think without the filter but is slowly learning courtesy of Ottey who is now a DI and George thinks that will be the end of their working together now she has been promoted, but is it?. He is concerned about his father but wants to finish the case and as ever ...

  One Day and Forever by Shari Low- women’s fiction Four threads about different people each facing calamities of one sort or another, the ones that life tends to throw at us to see what we are really made of. Kara is meant to be jetting off to her dream wedding only things aren’t going to plan. TV Star Ollie has just been dealt the final straw with his girlfriend Sienna via video- one that is all over the internet. Alice goes to the funeral of the mother of a past close friend and finds out more than she bargained for and Zac has also had his plans change at the last minute. Can they each finally find some sort of stability they each crave? Shari has a wonderful talent. Not only a great plot but especially of characters that I find myself quickly engaging with and wanting to find out more. This keeps the pages so easily turning and I could easily have read this in one sitting had real life not got in the way. It's a very real life scenario, things we have either been through or kn...