**End Of The Year Wrap Up **

Well I for one will be glad to see the back of 2016, for many reasons this hasn’t been the best year I’ve ever had. I’m going to embrace 2017 though and make it my year to take on new challenges.

Now I’m not one for New Years resolutions I always fail at the first hurdle (usually the 2nd of January 😂), but I am hoping to do a couple of things regarding my reading and my blog

• Read some books from my TBR pile, which I’m desperate to get through
• cut down on blog tours, as there’s too much pressure to read a book in a limited time
• Only request one book at a time on NetGalley (this ones going to be hard)
• if I’m not enjoying a book, I DON’T have to finish it, after all there are far too many amazing books out there to waste time on a duff one!
• learn to say “no” it’s ok NOT to agree to read and review every book that comes my way (my new mantra😂)
• Read more books by authors that are new to me, I’ve already got a couple lined up…..so watch this space!

Although I haven’t compiled a list of my top reads, here are just some of the books I really enjoyed this year and would highly recommend.

My top five most read posts

You can read the reviews here……

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/11/author-interview-behind-closed-doors-by-b-a-paris/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/08/behind-closed-doors-by-b-a-paris/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/01/26/tainted-love-by-kimberley-chambers/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/26/between-you-and-me-by-lisa-hall/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/06/10/the-sister-by-louise-jenson/

My First read of 2017

My first read of 2017 is Snatched From Home by Graham Smith, this is a book that has been sat on my TBR pile for a while, it’s also by an author I haven’t read yet which means I’ve already started on my goals for 2017

Books I’ve read to watch out for in 2017

As the end of the year approaches I would like to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who follows my blog and wish you all a fabulous New Year and hope all your dreams come true.

Lorraine x x x

 

 

#BookOfThe Month October 2016 @michaelJmalone1 @orendaBooks

As it’s the last day of October today (Happy Halloween by the way 🎃🕸👻🎃) I thought I would post my book of the month for October 2016. 

I’ve read some fabulous books this month and four books got my special “gold star award“, books that I consider be an outstanding read. I really can’t recommend theses books highly enough and they are certainly worthy of being added to any crime thrillers TBR pile they include……..

Dark Waters by Robert Bryndza

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land 

The Killing Game by J.S. Carol

Untouchable by Sibel Hodge

But there’s one book that stands out  for me it covered ever aspect of what I look for in a good read, fantastic plot, great characters and a storyline that drew me in from the first page and kept me in its grip until I reached the very last page, it also made me cry as it was heartbreaking, but dark and very sinister, so If you haven’t already guessed my book of the month is……..

A Suitable Lie By Michael J Malone

Book description

Some secrets should never be kept… Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match … and she loves his son like he is her own.

When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it. A dangerous mistake that could cost him everything.

A brave, deeply moving, page-turning psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie marks a stunning departure for one of Scotland’s finest crime writers, exploring the lengths people will go to hide their deepest secrets, even if it kills them…

My thanks to Karen over at Orenda books and Michael J Malone for giving me the chance to read this fabulous book. 

You can read my full review here…..
https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/10/26/a-suitable-lie-by-michael-j-malone-michaeljmalone1-orendabooks-review/

Or you can buy a copy here…….

 

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land @byAliLand #Review #2017MustReads

Book description 

SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY, CONTROVERSIAL AND EXPLOSIVE DEBUTS OF 2017 – for fans of quality psychological suspense and reading group fiction: once you read this book you’ll want to talk about it . ‘NEW N A M E . NEW FA M I LY. S H I N Y. NEW. ME . ‘

Annie’s mother is a serial killer. The only way she can make it stop is to hand her in to the police. But out of sight is not out of mind. As her mother’s trial looms, the secrets of her past won’t let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and name – Milly. A fresh start. Now, surely, she can be whoever she wants to be.

But Milly’s mother is a serial killer. And blood is thicker than water. Good me, bad me. She is, after all, her mother’s daughter

As you can see from the book description the publishers are saying this book is going to be EXTRAORDINARY, CONTROVERSIAL AND EXPLOSIVE, now when I read such claims the cynic in me comes out and often think “no way, it maybe good BUT……), but I’m thrilled to announce that Good Me Bad Me is certainly all it claims to be and more, It’s dark, utterly gripping, and brilliantly executed. This is the debut novel from Ali Land, I admit I found it hard to believe this wasn’t written by an established author, it’s just unbelievably brilliant. Annie is the mother of a serial killer, who after years of watching her operate, decides enough is enough and tells the police everything she knows about her mother. Now named Milly she starts a brand new life in foster care whilst awaiting her mums trial, I’m not going to say anything else about the story line as it’s definitely one of those books the less you know the more enjoyable the read.

The characters in Good Me Bad Me are very well drawn, especially Millie who I found to be intriguing to say the least. If I’m honest although I felt some empathy for Millie I can’t say I really took to her, this was due to her being an unreliable narrator every time I began to feel sorry for her, Mille would come out with a thought or a comment that sent chills down my spine. Millie is a very damaged soul, and this becomes more obvious as the storyline developed.  At times Millie appeared to struggle with the good and bad sides of her personality, but considering this was a young girl whose only role model was a serial killer it’s hardly surprising. This book goes from heart wrenching to disturbing and back again, so it’s difficult to second guess Millie which I loved.

If you are looking for a fast paced read then this book may not be for you, if you enjoy a story that slowly builds a dark and twisted web then I would highly recommend this book. There are numerous threads running through the plot which make for a tense and gripping read. Good Me Bad Me would certainly make a good book club read, as it raises many questions which I’m sure will make for a lively debate. For me personally I couldn’t help but think about Millie’s life, up until she was taken in to care she was obviously influenced by her mother, life experiences and her environment, and I couldn’t help wondering how once she was placed into a different environment with different role models would it be possible for Millie to start life over again? But  even after reading Good Me Bad Me I’m still not sure……after all Millie is her mothers daughter!!

Ali Land’s God Me Bad Me is both compelling and shocking, and it’s definitely a page turner, I became so engrossed I read it in just one sitting, it’s certainly a book that I feel will do really well when it’s released in January 2017. An astonishing debut from new author Ali Land I shall definitely be pre-ordering her next book without hesitation.

I won’t be giving Good Me Bad Me  5 stars, but I will be giving it the very prestigious GOLD STAR AWARD. I give this award to a book I feel covers every aspect of what I look for in a good read, fantastic plot, great characters and a storyline that drew me in from the first page and kept me in its grips until I reached the very last page, and this book certainly had all these things

Publisher: Michael Joseph (12 Jan. 2017)

Amazon UK

**Holiday Reads September 2016**

Hello the book review café is back, did you miss me? Probably not!! Well here I am anyway and I thought I would share my holiday reads with you all. I’m glad to say I had the most relaxing holiday ever in Portugal, and I managed to read TEN whole books, yes you read that right! It’s the most I’ve ever read in such a short time, and my god I read some real corkers. I’m super excited that I have made a dent in my Netgalley reads (six of the books were Netgalley reads), and now I just need to try and stay away from requesting any books until I’ve posted my reviews, and my shelf will be reasonable (watch this space, note I said TRY😂🙈). Just in case you are wondering what I read I’ve included a list. As a blogger I like to write my review straight away, so I’m feeling slightly sick at the thought of having to write ten reviews, and trying to remember everything I want to include in my review. So don’t expect them any time soon 😀😀……so here are the books I read

Ward Zero by Linda Huber

Anything For Her by Jack Jordan

Before I Let You In by Jenny Blackhurst

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Lizzie’s Christmas Escape by Christie Barlow

Untouchable by Sybil Hodge

The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land

Hide And Seek by M J Arlidge

No Way Back by M J Arlidge

***Weekly Wrap Up***

One of my less impressive weeks for reading this week, I’ve managed to read 2 books

He’s Gone by Alex Clare

This is a book I’ve read for the He’s Gone blog tour and you can read my review on Monday 1st August

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons

This book is so different to Angela Marson’s crime books, but I did enjoy it and my review will be on my blog soon.

Book post I received this week

I received a signed copy of Silent Scream from the lovely Angela Marsons

I also won a signed copy of Cruel Justice by M.A Comley

I also received a signed copy of He’s Gone by Alex Clare, which I think maybe a Giveaway for the blog tour (as there was just the book, no note with it, so watch this space)

Arc’s I’ve received this week

Well the NetGalley ban has gone out the window thanks to one of my favourite publisher Bookouture, they have just re-released two of my favourite authors (Angela Marsons) books, they sound very different to her usual books, so naturally I just had to get them!

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons

Dear Mother by Angela Marsons

Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land

Last week on The Book Review Café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/15/blogtour-all-is-not-forgotten-by-wendy-walker/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/14/topfivethursday-with-tracy-shephard-bookblogger/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/13/extract-melody-bittersweet-and-the-girls-ghostbusting-agency-by-kitty-french/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/12/unravelled-by-anna-scanlon/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/07/11/guest-post-linda-huber-author-of-chosen-child/

Next week on The Book Review Café

Guest Post from Netta NewBound author of Prima Facie

#TopFiveThursday with the fabulous Sharon Bairden of https://chapterinmylife.wordpress.com/

Watching Edie by Camellia Way Review

The Opticians Wife by Betsy Reavley Review

Blogging news from The Book Review Café

I’m really excited to share some HUGE news with you……..I’m finally the owner of book case! up until now my books have been all over the house, so now thanks to my other half Andy (who put my bookcase before he started his late shift, and Andy if you are reading this you’re one in a million😘) I have all my signed and TBR books in one place. It’s still a work in progress as I keep finding books left, right and centre, but I’m getting there. I also donated a huge bag of books to a local charity, it was hard letting them go, but on the upside more room for NEW books 😀😀😀😀

My new weekly feature #TopFiveThursday has taken off really well and I have had lots of positive comments about it. There are loads of bloggers lined up for this feature, but I’m always happy to add more. So if you are interested drop me a line (my email address can be found on my contact page), or leave a comment and I will get back to you.

When I get part of my quote featured on a book banner, I still get really excited (and I mean literally jumping around, and showing everyone a screen shot of my quote), when I started blogging I never dreamt my reviews would be read by anyone, let alone used in the promotion of a book. In case you are slightly interested it’s for The Stepmother by Claire Seeber, which I found to be an absolute gripping read.