Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Synopsis: When Tess Durbeyfield is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles and seek a portion of their family fortune, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future. Review: I enjoyed the story but there was a lot of waffling in it. A lot that didn't enhance the story and seemed to drag on a little. as a classic story I had to read it and I am glad I did butbits wasn't one I would read again. I do recommend the book if you have nothing else to read but I can only give is 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Lies We Bury by Elle Marr

 

 

Lies We Bury by Elle Marr.

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Synopsis:

I was born in captivity…

Two decades ago Marissa Mo escaped a basement prison—the only home she’d ever known. At twenty-seven, Marissa’s moved beyond the trauma and is working under a new name as a freelance photographer. But when she accepts a job covering a string of macabre murders in Portland, it’s impossible for Marissa not to remember.

Everything is eerily familiar. The same underground lairs. Sad trinkets and toys left behind, identical to those Marissa had as a child. And then there is the note meant just for her that freezes Marissa’s blood: See you soon, Missy.

To determine the killer’s next move, Marissa must retrieve her long-forgotten memories and return to a past she’s hidden away. But she won’t be facing her fears alone. Someone is waiting for her in the dark.

Review:

I picked this as it was one of the selected books for the month from amazon.

The background story is interlaced into the present day story line so we become attached to the characters and how they went from a life held hostage in a basement to learning to survive in the real world. There was just the right amount of twists without it becoming too far fetched. It did end a little too suddenly for me, it would have been nice to have a bit more of what happened after but it wasn't enough to give it less stars.

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

 

Each year around Christmas I get involved in a few secret santa's, last year was so different as post was all over the place and people were less inclined to post but a few still went ahead. 

One page I am on on Facebook, Lost In A Good Book, was one that still did their secret santa. My santa got me 2 books. One was this one. I didn't realise when I first started reading it that it was part of a series but I was assured by some people that it can be read on its own and it would still make sense so that's what I did. 

A man ends up dead and 911 is called by one of his daughters, then 911 gets a second call from another daughter, both are blaming each other. Eddie Flynns is representing one of the sisters but which one is guilty. 

There are so many twists and turns in this book that I didn't want to put it down. Just when you think you know where it is going you are hit by yet another curve ball. I loved it. I did have an inclination of who was guilty but I won't spoil it. 

Since reading this I have got the rest of the series and will get cracking on those too. 

Highly recommended 

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Pretty Bad things by C.J. Skuse

 

I have read a few of C.J. Skuse more recent books and I LOVE them so I had a look at her others and they all sounded right up my street so a little Amazon order later and I got a nice little package.

This is her first book and I devoured it in a couple of days. It follows 16 year old twins Paisley and Beau on their way to find their dad in Las Vegas. Along the way they get up to Bonnie and Clyde-esque antics to get their faces seen in hopes that their dad will see it. 

There is no stuffing in this book, its cover to cover of everything that keeps you captivated, invested in Paisley and Beau's journey. Even though their antics are not legal you can't help but want more. 

As a YA novel there are elements that are not quite child friendly, it does cover sex in the beginning and there is violence but I think for teens it's not a bad read. 

There is only a tiny downside to this book and that's how it ends. I have questions. 

I highly recommend this book. 

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Sweetpea trilogy by C J Skuse

 

****SPOILER ALERT****

I have been waiting to review this since I read the first book. By the time I had read it there was an announcement that there was a second and then a third so I couldn't review just the one. These are by the same author as The Alibi Girl I reviewed before.

Starting with book one 'Sweetpea' we see learn about Rhiannon who suvived a gruesome incident as a child and living as the daughter of a vigilante father. Rhiannon has her quirks with her Sylvanians and her urges to make sex offenders and rapists suffer.

Book two 'In Bloom' see Rhiannon deal with her dick of a boyfriend who was shagging someone else. Then to find out she is pregnant and the baby is like her inner voice, telling her not to kill. Not that that really stopped her. Her boyfriend gets arrested for the murders that she committed.

Final book 'Dead Head' starts at the end and Rhiannon goes on to tell her story of what happened after she had her baby and had to go on the run. The people she meets and the things she must do to avoid being caught and sentenced for her crimes. She meets some great people in this book. What i loved in this book was how The Alibi Girl was referenced in the book.

Over these 3 books I have really got captured by the characters and their stories and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. When I found out that firstbook was going to be written into a TV series I was so excited. I hope it is well done and they tell the whole story with additional series for books 2 and 3. 

Sweetpea and In Bloom are available now and Dead Head is released in February 2021.

I gave these books:

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Highly recommended. 

Cows by Matthew Stokoe

Firstly I have to say this is definitely not a book for anyone with a weak stomach. In fact it is not a book for 99.9% of society.

Now I have read some pretty graphic novels in my time but this one definitely contains some of the worst I have read.

This Matthew Stokoe novel is filled from the start with language and descriptions that are not what you would normally find in a book. With a very strange relationship between the main character and his mother. Describing the lack of basic hygiene and dignity is far from the worst things in this book. Amazon describes the storyline as

'a phantasmagoria of extreme violence, death, sex, bestiality, self-surgery, torture'

If someone told you there are talking cows in a book you would think it was strange but the talking cows is probably one of the least surprising parts of this whole book. I still don't understand why there are talking cows but I don't think that's the most pressing part of the book as a whole.

Definitely not for the faint hearted. 
I would recommend it to someone who has a strong stomach and isn't affected by much but even then it is pretty bad. I give it 

⭐⭐⭐

The Alibi Girl by C J Skuse.

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I was looking forward to reading this book since the author announced it as I have loved her previous work.
The storyline is great, it has plenty of twists and secrets that make you want to keep reading to see what will happen and why things are happening. The characters are so well presented that you can easily build a picture in your mind of who they are, what they look like and how they act. 
The fact the the author gave enough detail in the flashbacks that allowed the story to come to life and pull you in to the drama. 
I couldn't put it down. I was invested in characters and plot line. The way the author captured the multiple personalities of the main character and her mental state was done so well. 

I would highly recommend this book.