If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
The tagline says it all "If faking love is easy ... how do you know when it's real?"
Laurie and Jamie work together. Laurie has just been dumped by her longtime partner. Jamie has a reputation as a lady's man. After being trapped in an elevator together they embark on a plan, pretend to be a couple. Both have their reasons for such a plan and, as two forward thinking adults, they believe they can pull it off without a hitch. What could possibly go wrong?!
What follows is an enchanting contemporary romance, with pitfalls and heartfelt tenderness that ticks all the boxes for me. As with most of this authors books, this one does not disappoint.
Rating: 5/5 stars
The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
This author is a popular writer in television and in fiction. What makes this series unique is that he puts himself in the book itself, he works the book around his everyday life. Quirky but it works, so much so that I believe Masterpiece Theatre is sniffing around to adapt it for the small screen. Very good news indeed.
After a troubling murder the police are forced to bring in a consultant, Daniel Hawthorn, the snide and often rude P.I. from the first book in the series The Word Is Murder. And since our hapless author is writing a book about the private investigator he goes along to the case. I enjoy the interaction between the two characters as one barely speaks and the other trailing behind trying to make sense as to why he is called upon to help.
Entertaining and easily readable, the next installment already on my wishlist.
Rating: 4/5 stars
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick as well as a New York Times Bestseller, this book has all the intrigue of a good historical novel. Told in various views, the story follows secretaries turned spies, a famous author writing his masterpiece and his muse who goes through a harrowing ordeal in Cold War Russia.
Interesting premise for me but I did not find myself warming to the story, I wanted to but it missed the mark for me, which just goes to show how different we all are in our likes and dislikes.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
This was my audio-book for the month and it definitely kept me entertained on my walks. This very charming story takes place in 1950, where we meet Margery Benson, who decides, rather matter of factly, that she is going to quit her job as a school teacher and pursue her childhood dream of finding a rare and perhaps imaginary Golden Beetle. In doing so she pairs up with Enid Pretty, who has a mysterious back story of her own. In spectacular fashion this two women embark on a journey that will change both of their lives forever.
This story breaks barriers and makes you believe again. Belief in the power of friendship and of finding your true calling in life. Powerful bonds are formed and risks are taken but in the end it all came down to the raw passion that these two women had for change.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay
A seventeen your old girl leaves her father's house, where she is staying for the summer, for work one morning and vanishes. When her father frantically tries to piece together what happened he finds that all is not what it seems. What follows is a parents worst nightmare and doing whatever it takes to get to the truth, even if it kills you.
As always with the author the story is fast paced and full of action. Mr. Barclay is skilled at making heroes out of ordinary people while pushing them to the limits. An enjoyable read.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
If you are a reader of these posts you will see that I am running through the titles by this author quickly. She (actually they, as it is a writing duo) have a knack for writing witty and honest contemporary romance. This selection is no exception. The story revolves around the two assistants who work with a popular power renovation couple who have dominated the small screen in the past years. However the sheen is starting to fade on the couple's marriage and it is up to the assistants to keep up the facade long enough for the new show to air. Along the way the sparks fly and new relationships are formed, giving the reader a inside look at "reality" tv production.
Cute and enjoyable, perfect spring/summer pick-me-up read.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
Another book in what is turning out to be a favorite genre, historical fiction. This time we are in Italy during WW2 and a young Italian Jewish girl must flee her home to pose as the wife of a Christian farmer to evade German occupation. As we follow her journey the author brings to life a vivid tale of struggle and terror that was prevalent for the Jewish people. Woven into the story is one of love and acceptance.
Worth a read if you enjoy a bit of a history lesson as you go.
Rating: 3.5/5
A Witch to Remember by Heather Blake
This cozy mystery series has a little supernatural twist to it that I have always enjoyed. It is hard to describe the book without giving spoilers for those who may want to read the series but suffice it to say that Darcy again becomes involved in another mystery but this time there is a time limit to solve it as there is huge reckoning in the coven that will impact all of their lives.
I am thinking that this could be the final book in the series as the author ties up a few ends, I hope I am wrong because it is an enjoyable world to dip into.
Rating 3.5/5
As I type there is sunshine flowing in and a gorgeous day ahead so I think a bit of reading outside is in order.
Happy Reading!
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