Book Review: The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone
I am pleased to be welcoming Alex Stone to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, The Other Girlfriend.
She loves him…
Lizzie Green once loved Tom Murphy with a passion that bordered on obsession. All she wanted was his love to be returned. Then one night something terrible happened and Tom left Lizzie broken hearted. She swore she would never let him hurt her again….
She loves him not.
Now, ten years later, Tom turns up on Lizzie’s doorstep still as charming as ever. Lizzie knows he still has the power to break her heart and destroy her life again. But Lizzie can’t say no to him….
Can she?
*****
Lizzie had always loved Tom to the point where he became an obsession, but when a weekend away ends in tragedy, Tom disappears from her life, leaving her to deal with what’s broken.
It’s ten years later and he’s back. Is this their chance to be together? Does Tom really mean it when he says he loves her? She’s determined to believe him.
I was a big fan of Alex Stone’s last novel, The Perfect Daughter, so I couldn’t wait to start reading this novel.
I love the fact that it’s set in Bournemouth. I know that town and so I could picture all the places mentioned. The atmosphere and setting is described so well. I could see every scene. I would love this to be adapted into a tv series.
From page one, I was well and truly hooked and I read it in one day. I needed to know what happened and what would become of Lizzie.
by 
Book Review: So Happy For You by Celia Laskey
Robin and Ellie have been best friends since childhood.
They’ve been through everything together, from Robin coming out to the death of Ellie’s dad. But when Ellie asks Robin to be her maid of honour, Robin is reluctant.
It’s not that Robin isn’t happy for Ellie, she just hates everything about weddings and marriage – plus the guy Ellie’s engaged to. There’s also the matter of the crazy (not to mention dangerous) wedding rituals that couples are resorting to in the hope of securing a lifetime of happiness.
Despite her misgivings, Robin finally says yes. But as the wedding day approaches, she gets the feeling that everyone in the bridal party is out to get her. And it seems Ellie is willing to do anything for the perfect day. After all, marriage is about sacrifice…
*****
Robin and Ellie have been friends since school. However, in a world where there is an increasing pressure to get married, Robin is relucent when Ellie asks her to be maid of honour.
As the day approaches, Robin can’t help but feel paranoid. After all, Ellie will do anything for a perfect day.
They say this book is a cross between Black Mirror and Bridesmaids and they weren’t wrong. It’s completely bonkers, in a good way.
So Happy For You is set in the future where the government encourages marriage, even offering tax breaks to married couples. This is due to the birth rate falling. There’s now lots of apps and websites and brides are trying all sorts of rituals to bring good luck.
This brought a feeling of dystopia to the novel. Very Handmaids Tale/Black Mirror.
by Book Review: Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden
We are pleased to be welcoming Gillian Godden to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, Rough Diamonds.
Flawed, tough, unbreakable….
In the aftermath of her husband’s shocking murder, Patsy Diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Where is all his money? And who killed the man she once loved? Patsy knows exactly who to go to first – Nick’s pregnant mistress, Natasha.
Natasha might seem young and innocent, but Patsy’s certain the girl is hiding something. And the only way to find out what is to keep Natasha close and make her part of the Diamond family.
With the two women forming an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick’s secret life and discover things that shock…and terrify them.
Because Nick Diamond played a deadly game and if the women in his life want payback, then they are going to have to follow his rules – or break them and make their own.
But the strongest diamonds are created under pressure and these women are no exception…
*****
Patsy always knew that there was a side to her husband she didn’t know. When he’s murdered and his associates start to close in, she finds herself teaming up with the most unlikely of people.. her husband’s mistress.
There is action right from page one and it didn’t take me long to get pulled into the story.
It’s mostly made up of female characters which was a great perspective to have, especially when a lot of books in this genre focus on the men.
Patsy is a strong character but she soon finds herself out of her depth. It was interesting to see how she dealt with situations especially when you factor in children.
by Book Review: The Lottery by Peter Venison
If you found an unsigned lottery ticket, what would you do if it turned out to be worth millions? Hand it in or claim the prize?
Follow the twisting path of Maggie and Greg when faced with this dilemma.
Who are the winners and who are the real losers? What is the price of honesty and does winning bring happiness?
Can you do more good in the world if you are rich or poor? Find out in this intriguing tale of an ordinary family.
*****
Maggie and Greg are an ordinary couple living an ordinary life. They love each other and their children. However, when they find a ‘lost’ but valid lottery ticket, they are surprised to see that it wins them over £490 million, an amount that will change their lives forever, in ways they could never imagine.
It was so lovely to be invited onto the Clink Street Publishing Summer Tour and to be reviewing The Lottery by Peter Venison.
The premise of this novel intrigued me as I, like many others, have thought about what I would do if a won a big prize on the lottery.
I have to admit, it took me a few pages to get into this novel but, as it progressed, I found I got more and more invested in their story as they try to navigate life as millionaires. I can only imagine how it would feel to have that much money suddenly thrust into your life.
It was interesting to see how the money affected Greg and Maggie’s relationship especially when it came to the different plans on how to spend it. Greg takes the business approach – using the money to create more money and in the process, becomes a little mean and then a little lost. It certainly doesn’t make him happy as he continuously has to battle the issues that come with the decisions he makes on the back of the win.
by Book Review: The Waitress by Nina Manning
I’m pleased to be welcoming Nina Manning back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her latest novel, The Waitress
Nameless. Faceless. Deadly?
Waitress Kit Lowman knows that people look down on her and the job she does. But being anonymous offers Kit safety and security and allows her own terrible secrets to remain hidden.
And then Kit’s luck changes, and she suddenly faces a terrible dilemma: reveal her true identity and accept that life will never be the same. Or stay in the shadows…where she hopes she’ll be safe?
But secrets can’t stay hidden forever. And the more Kit tries to hide away, the more someone makes it clear that they are going to make her pay for what she did.
*****
Kit is aware that people look down on her for being a waitress. However, for Kit, it’s a job she’s good at. It means she can stay anonymous and allows her to keep her secrets.
She wins a house but is worried that it will expose what she did. The more she hides, the more someone is going to make her pay. Nothing is what it seems.
I’d previously read Queen Bee and loved it so I was looking forward to reading the new book by Nina Manning.
Kit is obviously running from something and from page one, I was immediately pulled into her journey and could feel the tension starting to build.
by Book Club
