Page Links

Home      About      Reviews      Contact     

30 June 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I've Read So Far in 2015

'Top Ten Tuesday' is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. I love making lists, so this feature fits me perfectly! If you also take part in this feature or have any additions to my lists, please get in touch; I'd love to hear from you!
 
 
Top 10 Books I've Read So Far in 2015!
A fun Top 10 list for this week! We're already halfway into 2015 and I've had the pleasure of reading a lot of great books during these six months. Today I'd like to share my 10 favourite 2015 reads so far with you and I'd love to hear from you with some book recommendations! 



1. Lindsey Kelk - 'What a Girl Wants'





2. Bree Darcy - 'Don't Mention the Rock Star'




3. Anna Bell - 'Don't Tell the Brides-to-Be' 






4. Cathy Bramley - 'Ivy Lane'





5. Nicholas Sparks - 'The Longest Ride'





6. Lucy Robinson - 'The Day We Disappeared'





7. Iona Grey - 'Letters to the Lost'





8. Rachel Hollis - 'Sweet Girl'





9. Rachael Lucas - 'Coming Up Roses'





10. Traci Borum - 'Finding the Rainbow'

28 June 2015

July 2015 releases! (Part 2)

Yesterday I posted some amazing releases which will hit the shelves during the first few weeks of July 2015 (click here to see the list). Fear not, though, if you need a big pile of books to get through the long summer days, July has even more fab releases in store for us, so be sure to also check out the list below! 

Which releases are you excited about? I'd love to hear from you! If you'd like me to include your book release in this list, feel free to contact me via e-mail or Twitter! :)

Jenna McCarthy - 'Pretty Much Screwed' (7 July)

“I don’t love you anymore.”

For Charlotte Crawford, the worst part about being dumped after twenty years of marriage is that her husband, Jack, doesn’t want another woman; he just doesn’t want her.

Forty-two and clueless, Charlotte is a fish out of water in a dating pool teeming with losers. Just when she thinks she’s finally put her failed marriage behind her, it comes back to bite her in the ass…hard. Without warning, Charlotte finds herself staring down the barrel of a future she wouldn’t (she would totally) wish on her worst enemy.

Why so excited? --> I'm personally not familiar with author Jenna McCarthy, but she's well-known for her hilarious memoirs and I have to admit I'm quite curious to check out her work for myself. 'Pretty Much Screwed' sounds like a fun read, so I hope to be able to check it out soon. 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Allison Morgan - 'The Someday Jar' (7 July)

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMON-DROP MARTINIS...
Real-estate broker Lanie Howard figures she has the perfect man, the perfect job, and the perfect life. Then she stumbles across her old Someday Jar, the forgotten glass relic where she stashed all the childhood wishes—no matter how crazy—that her father encouraged her to write down on the backs of Chinese restaurant fortunes. She used to be fun once! What happened to her?

DON'T CHOKE ON THE RIND.

Although Lanie is wary of uncorking her past, when an attractive stranger saves her from a life-or-death encounter with a lemon peel at the bottom of a martini glass, she realizes that life is way too short for regrets. Now, jar in hand, Lanie decides to throw caution to the wind, and carry out everything she had once hoped to do, even if it means leaving her perfectly “perfect” life behind…

Why so excited? --> This book is accompanied by a message that fans of Sophie Kinsella and the Shopaholic series will fall in love with this novel and its heroine as well, so that has already convinced me to want to pick up a copy of 'The Someday Jar' as soon as I can!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Holly Martin - 'Fairytale Beginnings' (10 July)

Love is an open door…except when it keeps slamming in your face.

Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming – he’s out there somewhere, isn’t he?

When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of an historical building in the village of Clovers Rest, she’s not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away - a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner…Cameron Heartstone.

As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can’t ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they’ve both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after?

Why so excited? --> I am SO incredibly excited about this novel, I don't even know where to begin. I have heard so many amazing things about Holly Martin's writing, and I can't wait to finally read one of her novels. This one also has a simply stunning cover which I can't stop looking at... I already love everything about it! 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Chrissie Manby - 'A Proper Family Adventure' (16 July)

Could you spend two weeks at sea with your family?

Thanks to an unexpected windfall, the Bensons are treating themselves to a luxury cruise. With stop-offs in Barcelona, Rome and Marseilles, plus constant entertainment onboard, it's a dream come true . . . Or is it? Last time Chelsea Benson went on holiday with this lot she nearly went crazy.

Her mum and sister are convinced Chelsea's boyfriend Adam will propose on the ship. Chelsea's sure he won't, but she can't help feeling butterflies as they set sail. Is Adam going to pop the question, or will the only thing to pop be Chelsea's ego?

Why so excited? --> This is book 3 in Chrissie Manby's 'Proper Family' series. A series which I haven't read myself but which I am sure is great summer reading. I love the cover of the book and the blurb sounds good as well, so I hope to finally be able to be introduced to the Bensons this summer!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Heidi Swain - 'The Cherry Tree Cafe' (16 July)

Lizzie Dixon's life feels as though it's fallen apart. Instead of the marriage proposal she was hoping for from her boyfriend, she is unceremoniously dumped, and her job is about to go the same way. So, there's only one option: to go back home to the village she grew up in and to try to start again.

Her best friend Jemma is delighted Lizzie has come back home. She has just bought a little cafe and needs help in getting it ready for the grand opening. And Lizzie's sewing skills are just what she needs.

With a new venture and a new home, things are looking much brighter for Lizzie. But can she get over her broken heart, and will an old flame reignite a love from long ago...?

Why so excited? --> I already fell in love with the cover of 'The Cherry Tree Cafe' as soon as I laid eyes on it and it sounds like a great chick lit read. I can't wait to have a copy in my hands!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Sophie Hart - 'The Girl's Guide to Getting Hitched' (17 July)

When new mum and events planner Julia Crawford is given the opportunity to plan three weddings, she jumps at the chance. What could possibly go wrong?… 

Forget bridezilla, Aimee’s future mother-in-law is the stuff of nightmares – hell bent on taking over the wedding entirely. Worse still, her fiancĂ©, Jon, seems oblivious. Aimee’s starting to wonder if she and her groom-to-be are right for each other after all… 

Body shy Debbie is on a mission. She’s determined to shed a lot of pounds before the big day. As the wedding inches closer, will the new Debbie lose sight of what’s really important? 

Gill loves Mike and their blended family of five kids to bits, but with a house full of teenage hormones and her eldest, Kelly, struggling with so much change, Gill is feeling the pressure... 

As the women bond over cake and a cuppa, can they each resolve their wedding woes before the big day? 

Why so excited? --> Another author whose novels have never disappointed me so far. I just love Sophie Hart's writing style and this is definitely one of my personal favourite July 2015 releases which I can't wait to read!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Cathy Bramley - 'Wickham Hall (Part Two)' (23 July)

Summertime at Wickham Hall is hard to beat. The sun is out, the gardens are in full bloom, and the Summer Festival is just around the corner.

With a clipboard in one hand and her diary in the other, Holly Swift is in her element. She’s even warming to Ben, her unorganised, spontaneous (if very attractive) boss who occasionally drives her mad.

But as the festival rolls near, a family secret from the past threatens to rain down on Holly’s parade. Can she weather the storm, or is this a problem not even Holly can plan her way out of?

Why so excited? --> Another fantastic author who is treating us to another fabulous part in her newest e-book series, 'Wickham Hall.' Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to read the first part of the series yet, but I am sure it will be a great read!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Sinead Moriarty - 'The Way We Were' (30 July)

'He needed something else. He wanted more.'

Alice and Ben are a couple like any other bound together by love, work, children, familiarity and a shared sense of purpose.

But when Ben decides to pursue a dream of his own, he brings devastation on his family and, as far as they know, their lives will never be the same again.

Alice and Ben are now on different paths: she needs to put their shared life behind her; he needs to remember it to survive.

So, what happens if they get a second chance?

Can they - should they - go back to the way they were?

Why so excited? --> Sinead Moriarty's novels always manage to intrigue me and she's a great women's fiction author. I am curious to read 'The Way We Were' and have high hopes for this book!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Kat French - 'The Piano Man Project' (30 July)

Finding love isn’t always black and white…

You: kind, piano-playing sex god
Me: hopelessly romantic charity shop manager

Honeysuckle Jones has a problem, and her best friends Nell and Tash are on a mission to help her solve it. She needs a man – a caring, intelligent, funny man. But most importantly, a man who’s good with his hands…

Luckily Honey’s new neighbour – moody, antisocial ex-chef Hal – fails on almost every count. Even though the chemistry between them is electric, he’s obviously wrong for her in every way.

But when Honey discovers the devastating reason for his moods she decides to give him another chance. And discovers that the best songs aren’t always in tune…

Why so excited? --> I was a part of the blog tour for Kat French's debut novel 'Undertaking Love' last year; a book which I read and was one of my favourites of 2014. I'm really excited Kat is releasing another novel this July and I already have my fingers crossed I will enjoy 'The Piano Man Project' as much as I did her first novel!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Eleanor Morgan - 'A Daughter's Secret' (30 July)

Mia is a high-flying child psychotherapist, hoping to be made partner in the thriving practice where she works. But then she takes on a case which will change her life for ever, and bring back the past she has done her best to bury. 

Thirteen year old Gemma was the last person to see her father before he went on the run, fleeing from a major criminal trial. The police are desperate to track him down, pressuring Mia to tease the information out of his angry and reluctant daughter. But what does Gemma really know and how hard can Mia push without betraying her? 

Both are hiding devastating secrets. Both need the other to survive. Will they learn to trust each other before it's too late?

Why so excited? --> I think this sounds like a really intriguing piece of women's fiction which I can't wait to give a try. I am not familiar with author Eleanor Morgan, but have already added this to my TBR-list and hope to be able to pick up a copy in the next few weeks!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Claire Sandy - 'A Very Big House in the Country' (30 July)

'Holidays are about surviving the gaps between one meal and another.'

For one long hot summer in Devon, three families are sharing one very big house in the country. The Herreras: made up of two tired parents, three grumbling children and one promiscuous dog; the Littles: he's loaded (despite two divorces and five kids), she's gorgeous, but maybe the equation for a truly happy marriage is a bit more complicated than that; and the Browns, who seem oddly jumpy around people, but especially each other.

By the pool, new friendships blossom; at the aga door, resentments begin to simmer. Secret crushes are formed and secret cigarettes cadged by the teens, as the adults loosen their inhibitions with litres of white wine and start to get perhaps a little too honest ...

Why so excited? --> Another release which seems to be a great summer read to pick up within the next couple of weeks. I really like both the cover and the description of the summer and I've only heard good things about Claire Sandy's books. Definitely looking forward to giving this a chance!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


27 June 2015

July 2015 releases! (Part 1)

It's the end of June and we can finally officially say summer is here! One of the best things about summer has to be the fact that most of us will have a lovely holiday or some time off work/school to look forward to, and what better way to spend your free time than with some great new books?! I already can't wait to pick some novels to add to my own summer TBR-list. If you're still looking for some summer reads, be sure to check out these upcoming July releases; I'm sure you'll find something you will want to pick up! 

Abby Clements - 'The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop' (2 July)

Anna and her husband Matteo are ready to embark a delicious Italian adventure. After a year and a half running their ice cream shop on Brighton beach and raising their baby Isabella, Matteo is starting to miss Italy. A shared passion for ices means it's easy to settle on a new business idea - they'll open a shop in the town's cobbled square, a short walk from the sparkling blue sea. For a while, life is sweet; but then Matteo's overbearing family get involved...

Anna's younger sister Imogen feels like things are finally coming together - she's living with boyfriend Finn in a beach house in Brighton, and her photography is taking off. Then her career stalls, and the lure of Capri - and a man from her past - prove difficult to resist. 

Join Anna and Imogen and share a summer on the Amalfi Coast that you'll never forget.

Why so excited? --> I've really enjoyed all of Abby Clements' works so far and I'm so excited she has decided to write a sequel to her book 'The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop'. Just by looking at the cover and reading the blurb I know this will be the perfect summer read; I can't wait!

 


Alexandra Brown - 'The Great Village Show' (2 July)

Tindledale is in a titter. The Village Show competition is coming around again and after last year’s spectacular failure, the villagers are determined to win. Meg, teacher at the local school, is keen to help and to impose some much-needed order.

After a terse encounter with a newcomer to the village, Meg discovers that it is celebrity chef and culinary bad boy, Dan Wright. Meg thinks he is arrogant and rude but rumour has it that Dan is opening a new restaurant in the village which could really put Tindledale on the map!

As things come together, villagers old and new all start to come out of the woodwork, including new arrival Jessie, who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceptive and Meg discovers that when it comes to Tindledale – and Dan – nothing is ever quite as it seems…

Why so excited? --> Last year Alexandra Brown's novel 'The Great Christmas Knit Off' was released and 'The Great Village Show' is the summery sequel to it! I don't know why I haven't read 'The Great Christmas Knit Off' yet, especially since I know I love Alexandra Brown's writing. This sounds like a great read and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! 
 


Amanda Prowse - 'Perfect Daughter' (2 July)

Wife. Mother. Daughter. What happens when it all becomes too much?

Jackie loves her family. Sure, her teenage children can be stroppy. Her husband a little lazy. And providing round-the-clock care for her Alzheimer's-ridden mother is exhausting. She's sacrificed a lot to provide this safe and loving home, in their cramped but cosy semi with a view of the sea.

All Jackie wants is for her children to have a brighter future than she did. So long as Martha, the eldest, gets into university and follows her dreams, all her sacrifice will be worth something... won't it?

Why so excited? --> I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing several of Amanda Prowse's novels in the past couple of years and her writing is amazing. I have a good feeling this will be another intriguing and touching read!
  


Debbie Johnson - 'Pippa's Cornish Dream' (2 July)

Since Pippa Harte was forced to take over her parent’s farm, she’s barely had time to shave her legs let alone make time for love. Now she’s more likely to be getting down and dirty mucking out the pigs – and avoiding those of the human male variety.

When Ben Retallick walks out of her childhood and back into her present it seems that perhaps Pippa has more time than she thought. All Poldark smoulders and easy-going charm, Ben’s definitely worth whipping her wellies off for!

But Ben is a man with his own past and his own issues – and as much as she’s enjoying having him around, she’s got to get a grip. After all life isn’t always a beach … even if you are in Cornwall.

Why so excited? --> I just love love loooooove the cover for 'Pippa's Cornish Dream'! It's simply gorgeous and it's already reason enough for me to pick up this novel this July. I really can't wait to read this and have high hopes for it!

 


Jane Green - 'Summer Secrets' (2 July)

June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.

June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.

Why so excited? --> Another one of my favourite authors who is treating us to a new novel in the upcoming month! Jane Green's stories never disappoint and always manage to make an impression on me. I would pick this up without reading the description or looking at the cover; her name is already enough!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Sarah Morgan - 'Some Kind of Wonderful' (2 July)

Her whole life, Puffin Islander Brittany Forrest has dreamed of adventure. And at the age of eighteen, she thought she’d found it in bad boy Zachary Flynn. But after just ten tempestuous, smouldering days, their whirlwind marriage went up in smoke, and Brittany resolved to put him out of her mind forever.

Zach knows he let Brittany down, but being back on Puffin Island and seeing Brittany again stirs up long-buried emotions. This daredevil pilot has never felt worthy of her, yet he can’t stay away—even when he knows the chemistry between them will only complicate his life.

As long, hot summer days on the beach dissolve into sultry, starry nights, Brittany and Zach find that the sparks between them are more powerful than ever. Could it be that the second time around, their dreams of a happy-ever-after will finally come true?

Why so excited? --> I've only heard lovely things about Sarah Morgan's books and I would love to check out her Puffin Island series (such a great name for a book series!). I also love the bright and colourful book cover; a real summer read! 


 


Josephine Moon - 'The Chocolate Apothecary' (2 July)

Christmas Livingstone has formulated 10 top rules for happiness by which she tries very hard to live. Nurturing the senses every day, doing what you love, sharing joy with others are some of the rules but the most important for her is no. 10 - absolutely no romantic relationships!

Her life is good now. Creating her enchantingly seductive shop, The Chocolate Apothecary, and exploring the potential medicinal uses of chocolate makes her happy; her friends surround her; and her role as a fairy godmother to her community allows her to share her joy. She doesn't need a handsome botany ace who knows everything about cacao to walk into her life. One who has the nicest grandmother - Book Club Captain at Green Hills Aged Care Facility and intent on interfering - a gorgeous rescue dog, and who wants her help to write a book. She really doesn't need any of that at all.

Or does she?

Why so excited? --> Josephine Moon's debut novel 'The Tea Chest' was a warm and lovely read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait to read her second novel 'The Chocolate Apothecary'. It has a gorgeous cover and the blurb promises a great story; definitely one of the July releases I'm most excited about!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Lisa Jewell - 'The Girls' (2 July)

You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.

You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.

You think your children are safe.

But are they really?

Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?

Why so excited? --> Another gorgeous cover, and another release by a great author! And all of these books will be released on the same day, the 2nd of July, it's crazy! Lisa Jewell's novels are also books that never disappoint and stories that really manage to captivate me from start to finish. Another one that has already been added to my TBR-list!


 


Sheila O'Flanagan - 'My Mother's Secret' (2 July)

When Steffie helps her two siblings organize a surprise wedding anniversary party for their parents her only worry is whether they'll be pleased. What she doesn't know is this is the day that her whole world will be turned upside down.

Jenny wants to be able to celebrate her ruby anniversary with the man she loves, but for forty years she has kept a secret. A secret that she can't bear to hide any longer. But is it ever the right time to hurt the people closest to you?

As the entire family gather to toast the happy couple, they're expecting a day to remember. The trouble is, it's not going to be for the reasons they imagined...

Why so excited? --> Sheila O'Flanagan has been around for many years and has written numerous great novels and I'm really happy to hear we are being treated to another one of her tales! 

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 


Sue Watson - 'Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams' (3 July)

Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it. 
After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination. 

With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez. 

A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud. 

But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt? 

Why so excited? --> I've had the pleasure of reading several of Sue Watson's other novels before and I've enjoyed all of her works so far. I have already added 'Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams' to my summer TBR-list and can't wait to pick it up!


 


Taylor Jenkins Reid - 'Maybe in Another Life' (7 July)

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her.

Why so excited? --> I haven't read any of Taylor Jenkins Reid's other books, but I absolutely love how her newest release 'Maybe in Another Life' sounds! It seems to be quite a unique and fascinating read and I really look forward to reading it.

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
 

Be sure to check back on the blog tomorrow for even more July 2015 releases!

25 June 2015

Review: 'The Lost Child' by Ann Troup (2015)

Mandy Miller disappeared from Hallow’s End when she was just 3 years old. She was never found.
Thirty years on, Elaine Ellis is carrying her mother’s ashes back to Hallow’s End to scatter them in the place that she once called home. Elaine has never been there, but it’s the only place Jean talked about while she was growing up – so it seems as good a place as any.

As Elaine settles into her holiday cottage in the peaceful Devonshire village, she gets to know the locals; family she never knew she had, eccentric and old-fashioned gentry, and new friends where she would least expect them. But she is intrigued by the tale of the missing girl that the village still carries at its heart, and which somehow continues to overshadow them all. Little does she know how much more involved in the mystery she will become…

While I love reading chick lit novels, it's great to switch things up a bit every now and again by picking up books within a different genre, such as YA, historical fiction, or a detective/mystery/thriller. Author Ann Troup's newest book 'The Lost Child', which was released by Carina UK on the 19th of May, belongs to that last category. When I was contacted about the novel, the blurb straight away intrigued me and I was curious to find out more about the story. Thanks again to Ann herself for being willing to provide me with a review copy, so I could read and review the book for my blog! 

Elaine Ellis has travelled to the small Devon village of Hallow's End, where her mother used to live, to spread her mother's ashes. Since her own house is being renovated, Elaine decides to rent a holiday cottage and spend a few days in the village, discovering why her mother loved it there so much. Yet, what Elaine doesn't know is that this trip will change her life forever. Years ago, Hallow's End was the scene of a tragedy when a little girl named Mandy Miller disappeared. The body was never found, just Mandy's bloody sweater. Now, after all those years, new proof suddenly appears and Elaine can't help but become involved with the whole case.

This book is quite a page-turner! 'The Lost Child' managed to exceed my expectations and had me on the edge of my seat throughout most parts of the story. While the basic plotline of Ann Troup's novel might not be the most original one (a child that goes missing and a whole village that has never forgotten, then the case is opened again years later), the author definitely gave it her own twist and turned it into a captivating tale with a strong focus on the relationships between the different characters. I liked the protagonist Elaine from the start and various other characters (such as grumpy teenager Brodie, builder Dan, and all the various people living in the village of Hallow's End) were fascinating and really added their own touch to the story. 

The book is quite well-paced and continually surprised me with new details and events that made sure I didn't want to stop reading but instead find out what would come next. It is quite a dark novel, with various serious topics that are dealt with, but this fits the storyline and the genre. I think I would describe the book as a dark women's fiction read with a good dose of mystery/thriller. Overall, 'The Lost Child' is an intriguing and captivating read which had me on the edge of my seat until the last few chapters; an entertaining book by a new author that has definitely sparked my interest!
Rating:8,5/10
 
For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.