Nicki's book blog

  The Night Shift by Gemma Rogers- Psychological Thriller Nina is working nights at a storage facility to fund her way through university. She mans the desk and checks customers in and out. One night a man is acting rather suspiciously and puts Nina on edge. When her phone goes missing things take a turn for the worse, not helped by the fact that the phone alerts Nina to her blood sugar levels as she is type 1 diabetic and has to be carefully controlled. As things progress can Nina get out and escape from danger? From the outset this is one of those edge of your seat reads where I kept turning to find out more. It's a locked room-time limited scenario which makes the tension bristle between the pages. Gemma is a skilled author who has the talent for putting the reader right there with Nina and experiencing the uncertainty. A thrilling roller coaster of a read. Hold on to your seat and enjoy!  For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog ----------...

  Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood- crime thriller DI Ashley Knight has a conundrum. There are four people missing, which is nothing out of the ordinary, however as there has been a trafficking gang operating things could be escalating. When a body is found near a lighthouse of a young woman, it looks like the gang however things don't add up one way or another. When the NCA steps in, the team knows that this is part of something a whole lot bigger than they could have imagined. This is part of a series but happily stands alone ( other than a few minor threads), that said why miss out on other fantastic reads? (all 5* from me) I really enjoy this series. It’s one that is easy to get into and a comfortable read despite the subject matter (nothing gory). The characters are wonderful and realistic and Ross has that skill of enveloping the reader within the pages easily and agreeably. I really like Ashley and her style- one of seeing justice done with a big heart  or tough ...

  The Seven O'clock Club by Amelia Ireland - General Fiction  Four clients, four very different stories. Genevieve is a psychologist and is trying out a new therapy by having four carefully chosen people together in sessions who will hopefully help one another. Freya, Callum, Victoria and Mischa all have gone through bereavement in differing ways. Callum is a famous singer and appears to have a wonderful life, but he’s finding it empty and lonely. Mischa lost her mother to Alzheimer's, and blames herself for what happened. Victoria also lost her mother but as they were estranged she didn't feel anything until she read a letter her mother had left her. Freya had an idyllic childhood but being an adult isn't so great in her world.  This starts with each one trying to recall a happy childhood memory- something not everyone can do so easily and reminds us that everyone is different and we don’t always know what they are going through and the challenges some of us face. It...

  If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge- women’s fiction Violet works at a book publisher and loves her job. She has been messed about by boyfriend Lenny and is gutted when she finds out the truth about him. Finding a new flatmate in Bella gives her a new start in more ways than she ever realised, something that resonated with me and I’m sure will with other readers.  Sometimes the worst things perhaps bring out the best in us if that makes sense? A fresh start, a new look, the little things that make us feel different and better even if only to ourselves. Samantha has a truly wonderful talent for putting things into a story that say so much more than the words on the page, that the reader can clearly see if they want to. Parts of the story go back to Violet's school days and her life with her mother and Uncle, who she was very close to, which gives a background as to why Violet is now, at the beginning of the book.  There are not many books where I finish and have to...

  The Widow’s Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby- cosy crime   A new author to me and a book I devoured!  Ginny has not long been widowed and has moved to a village where she has taken a job helping in the library. Louisa, the librarian, is rather a harridan as Ginny quickly finds out on her first day. On her second day there is a queue outside the library and rather a kerfuffle- the door is locked and no sign of Louisa. On being told where the spare key is, but no one dares go in for fear of Louisa’s reputation and treatment of many of the locals, Ginny braves it only to find Louisa dead. A group of widows soon make themselves known to Ginny and before she knows it they are investigating the crime. Who killed Louisa and why? I so loved this, it's a wonderful, comfortable, easy read with a smile. There is far more than the crime going on, as in any village,and also those who know everyone else's business one way or another which makes for good opportunities for the amateur d...

  Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks-psychological thriller A belter of a read, one I raced through. Jess has brought up her daughter Issie alone for many years as her husband left to go to the states with his ex wife. Issie and Jess have always been close, that is until Issie met Dylan, her boyfriend. The caring conscientious girl rapidly changed and has now gone travelling with him. Jess calls Issie on her birthday and can't get hold of her. It's her eighteenth so she may be off enjoying herself but when call after call goes unanswered and it appears Issie’s phone is off, Jess begins to worry. The local police are unhelpful as Issie is abroad and is now technically an adult. Jess tracks down Dylan's mother who is also little help and Jess feels that she is hiding something. What has happened to Issie and why? OMG! There are certain books where you hold your breath right the way through and this is most certainly one of them. I was riveted and would have read this in one sitt...

  The Secrets of Flowers By Sally Page - general fiction   Emma has given up her scientific research job after losing her husband a while ago. She sees an ad in the local paper for a florist at a garden centre  “no experience necessary”. She loves flowers and wants a change of pace and people and this suits her fine. She gets invited to a talk on the Titanic at the garden centre but bottles out at the last minute, however this gets her thinking. Who arranged the flowers on board? There is no mention of a florist despite numerous other occupations being listed and being a luxury liner there would most certainly be flowers around.. Alternate chapters are by “Violet”, someone we know little about to begin with.  I read this straight after finishing “ The Book of Beginnings” which I adored  (and inspired me to buy a fountain pen again- thank you Sally) so you know I love this author, her style and craft. Sally carries the reader into the heart of the story so very e...

  The Woman with All the Answers by Linda Green- women’s fiction   This is a cracking premise! Alexa is really a local woman called Pauline who puts on her “ received pronunciation “ voice to help out the family, working as a call centre operative. The family in question is in turmoil. Michelle , the mother, is just about holding it all together. Her finances aren't great and she finds out her husband has a secret obsession buying memorabilia, her daughter is struggling with her mental health and the son is on the edge of getting into trouble. Add to this her mother in law needs checking on daily and she can’t trust her husband to remember everything Carole might need, and her own perimenopausal issues as well as a full time job and her father who alo requires assistance. When Alexa offers to help, Michelle really needs a friend. This is written brilliantly and with a northern dialect who say it as it is (and occasionally miss out “ the” ( as in “ put tea in cup”.)  I lik...

  The Honourable Rogue by Tony Forder- crime Jimmy, as ever, is really busy. He’s up to his neck in two cases. He is now retired and working as a civilian working cold cases and this one involves someone he’d rather not cross paths with but has little choice if he is to see justice done. He is also SIO on a murder case- an elderly woman was scammed out of a great deal of money and it now looks like the perpetrators have returned and killed her and assaulted a policewoman in the process.  I adore Jimmy. He's someone I'd love to know as he has a heart of gold, a wicked sense of humour and if you are on the right side of him he would defend you to the hilt. Tony has a superb talent for putting this on a page, wrapping the reader into the heart of things and not letting go. It's a crime read but for me a hug in a book from Jimmy who has to be my best all time detective and I don’t say that lightly as I read a lot of crime books. There’s a great camaraderie amongst the character...