Tag: NetGalley

Books, General

The Prison Doctor | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: The Prison Doctor

Author: Dr. Amanda Brown

Rating: 5 Stars

Dates read: 27 Aug 19 – 30 Aug 19

Publication date: 13 Jun 2019

Publisher: HQ

Genre(s): Memoir, Prison

Description:

Dr Amanda Brown has treated inmates in the UK’s most infamous prisons – first in young offenders’ institutions, then at the notorious Wormwood Scrubs and finally at Europe’s largest women-only prison in Europe, Bronzefield. From miraculous pregnancies to dirty protests, and from violent attacks on prisoners to heartbreaking acts of self-harm, she has witnessed it all. In this memoir, Amanda reveals the stories, the patients and the cases that have shaped a career helping those most of us would rather forget.

*I was given an eARC of this book courtesy of HQ and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review* Continue reading “The Prison Doctor | Review” →

Books, General

I Will Miss You Tomorrow | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: I Will Miss You Tomorrow

Author: Heine Bakkeid (Translator: Anne Bruce)

Rating: 5 Stars

Dates read: 22 Nov 19 – 24 Nov 19

Publication date: 14 Nov 2019

Publisher: Bloomsbury Raven Books

Genre(s): Crime, Nordic Noir, Thriller

Description:

The first in a new Norwegian crime series featuring disgraced ex-Chief Inspector Thorkild Aske, a damaged man with a complicated past

Fresh out of prison and a stint in a psychiatric hospital, disgraced ex-policeman Thorkild Aske only wants to lose himself in drugged dreams of his beloved Frei. Wild, unknowable Frei. The woman he loved. The woman he has lost forever.

Yet when Frei’s young cousin goes missing off the Norwegian coast and Thorkild is called in by the family to help find him, dead or alive, Thorkild cannot refuse. He owes them this.

Tormented by his past, Thorkild soon finds himself deep in treacherous waters. He’s lost his reputation – will he now lose his life?

*I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of Bloomsbury, Raven Books in exchange for an honest and fair review* Continue reading “I Will Miss You Tomorrow | Review” →

Books, General

So Lucky | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: So Lucky

Author: Dawn O’Porter

Rating: 5 Stars

Dates read: 25 Oct 19 – 01 Nov 19

Publication date: 31 Oct 2019

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre(s): Contemporary, feminism, mental health

Description:

IS ANYONE’S LIFE . . .

Beth shows that women really can have it all.
Ruby lives life by her own rules.
And then there’s Lauren, living the dream.

AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?

Beth hasn’t had sex in a year.
Ruby feels like she’s failing.
Lauren’s happiness is fake news.

And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out…

*I was given an eARC of this book courtesy of Harper Collins and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review* Continue reading “So Lucky | Review” →

Books, General

Mooncakes | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: Mooncakes

Author: Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

Rating: 5 Stars

Dates read: 17 Aug 19

Publication date: 22 Oct 19

Publisher: Lion Forge

Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Fantasy, YA

Description:

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

*I was given an eARC of this book courtesy of Lion Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review* Continue reading “Mooncakes | Review” →

Books, General

Gods of Jade and Shadow | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: Gods of Jade and Shadow

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Rating: 3 Stars

Dates read: 04 Aug 19 – 14 Aug 19

Publication date: 23 Jul 2019

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Genre(s): Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology

Description:

The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.

*I was given an eARC of this book courtesy of Jo Fletcher Books/Quercus and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review* Continue reading “Gods of Jade and Shadow | Review” →

Books, General

Guilt | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: Guilt

Author: Amanda Robson

Rating: 3 Stars

Dates read: 25 Apr 19 – 28 Apr 19

Publication date: 19 Apr 2018

Publisher: Avon

Genre(s): Thriller, Psychological thriller

Description:

Your sister. Her secret. The betrayal.

There is no bond greater than blood . . .

When the body of a woman is found stabbed to death, the blame falls to her twin sister. But who killed who? And which one is now the woman behind bars?

Zara and Miranda have always supported each other. But then Zara meets Seb, and everything changes. Handsome charismatic and dangerous, Seb threatens to tear the sisters’ lives apart – but is he really the one to blame? Or are deeper resentments simmering beneath the surface that the sisters must face up to?

As the sisters’ relationship is stretched to the brink, a traumatic incident in Seb’s past begins to rear its head and soon all three are locked in a psychological battle that will leave someone dead. The question is, who?

*I received an eARC of this book courtesy of Avon and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review* Continue reading “Guilt | Review” →

Books, General

Gentleman Sinner | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: Gentleman Sinner

Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas

Rating: 3 Stars

Dates read: 19 Jan 19 – 20 Jan 19

Publication date: 05 Feb 19

Publisher: Orion Publishing

Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Description:

His scars run deep.
His love runs fierce.

Izzy White knows of the darkness in this world. After all, she escaped it long ago. Now, she has a built a stable life, making caring for others her mission. But one act of kindness upends her efforts when the notorious and wildly attractive Theo Kane crashes into her world.

His reputation is terrifying yet with Izzy Theo is tender-a complete gentleman-and she falls hard. As Theo’s demons come to light Izzy knows she should run, but she can’t leave, not now. Yet staying together could doom them both.

*I received an eARC of this book courtesy of Orion Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review*
*SPOILER WARNING*

Continue reading “Gentleman Sinner | Review” →

Books, General

The Last Romeo | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: The Last Romeo

Author: Justin Myers

Rating: 4 Stars

Dates read: 21 Dec 18 – 05 Jan 19

Publication date: 02 Apr 18

Publisher: Piatkus/Little, Brown Book Group

Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance

Description:

James is 34 and fed up. His six-year relationship with Adam has imploded, he hates his job making up celebrity gossip, and his best friend Bella has just announced she’s moving to Russia.

Adrift and single in loved-up London, James needs to break out of his lonely, drunken comfort zone. Encouraged by Bella, he throws himself headlong into online dating, blogging each encounter anonymously as the mysterious Romeo.

After meeting a succession of hot/weird/gross men, James has fans and the validation he’s always craved. But when his wild night with a closeted Olympian goes viral and sends his Twitter-fame through the roof, James realises maybe, in the search for happy-ever-after, some things are better left un-shared. Seriously, wherefore art thou Romeo . . .

*I received an e-ARC of this book courtesy of Piatkus/Little, Brown Book Group and Net Galley in return for a fair and honest review* Continue reading “The Last Romeo | Review” →

Books, General

If We’re Not Married By Thirty | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: If We’re Not Married By Thirty

Author: Anna Bell

Rating: 4 Stars

Dates read: 05 Dec 18 – 09 Dec 18

Publication date: 24 Nov 2018

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre

Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance

Description:

Lydia’s not exactly #LivingHerBestLife. She never imagined she’d be here at thirty – newly single, a job that’s going nowhere and her friends all winning at life when she’s still barely taking part. So she jumps at the chance of a free holiday and jets off to sunny Spain.

Then, out of the blue, she bumps into her childhood friend, the handsome and charming Danny Whittaker. She’s always had a crush on him and they soon enter into a passionate holiday romance.

But this relationship could be more than just a fling. Years ago they made a pact that if they were still single when they turned thirty they would get married. But noone really follows through on these pacts . . . right?

Could Lydia’s back-up man really be her happy ever after?

*I received an e-ARC of this book courtesy of Bonnier Zaffre and Net Galley in return for a fair and honest review* Continue reading “If We’re Not Married By Thirty | Review” →

Books, General

Cross Her Heart | Review

Liz Whitehouse

Title: Cross Her Heart

Author: Sarah Pinborough

Rating: 5 Stars

Dates read: 19 Sep 18 – 27 Sep 18

Publication date: 17 May 2018

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller

Description:

Promises only last if you trust each other, but what if one of you is hiding something?

A secret no one could ever guess.

Someone is living a lie.

Is it Lisa?

Maybe it’s her daughter, Ava.

Or could it be her best friend, Marilyn?

*I received an e-ARC of this book courtesy of Harper Collins and Net Galley in return for a fair and honest review* Continue reading “Cross Her Heart | Review” →