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I post book reviews as often as possible but at least once a week every Wednesday! I hope they help you to find some new books that you'll love as much as I did!
It’s finally the 31st of December which means that another whole year has gone by! It also means that there’s been an entire year of reading - and what a fabulous year it’s been for books this year! There have been so many amazing reads that it hasn’t made it easy for me to choose my favourites, but here, in no particular order, are my favourite nine books of 2018! My Top 9 Books of 2018Sticks and Stones by Jo JakemanI knew as soon as I finished reading this, that it would make my list of my favourite books of the year. I absolutely loved it and still remember the way it made me feel whilst I was reading it. In fact I liked it so much that I said that if you only read one book in 2018, it should be Sticks and Stones. The Rumour by Lesley KaraThis book completely smashed it out of the park for me. Kara was one step ahead the whole time and masterfully kept me right where she wanted me. It was the epitome of a five star read and I couldn’t fault it. The Fear by C.L. TaylorThe Fear really made me realise how much of an expert C.L Taylor is at keeping the reader on the edge of their seat! This book was a dark and unsettling rollercoaster read which had me completely addicted and reacting aloud at the twists. Murder in the Caribbean by Robert ThorogoodI absolutely adored this book, it’s written with such skill and in such a warm and witty style, that it brings sunshine and a smile to even the greyest of days. With an engaging mystery at its core and an unorthodox but loveable detective leading the way, Murder in the Caribbean is an excellent addition to the Death in Paradise family and a read not to be missed. The Chalk Man by C. J. TudorThe Chalk Man was a haunting, dark and absolutely hypnotising read which I stayed up way too late finishing because I simply couldn’t stop reading! It was so tense that at times I almost forgot to breathe. Bring Me Back by BA ParisThis was my first five star read of 2018 and it was fully deserving of every single one of those stars. It had me mesmerised and I lost more hours of sleep reading it than I dare to count, whilst the almighty ending stayed with me long after I had finished reading. The Devil’s Dice by Roz WatkinsThis is one of those books that had me at the prologue and forced me to read on and on. I lied to myself throughout by thinking 'Just one more chapter' when in reality, I knew that there was no chance of tearing myself away. It was riveting, creepy and extremely engaging. My Little Eye by Stephanie MarlandI loved everything about this book. What really piqued my interest though, was the exploration of ‘crowd-sourced crime solving’, ‘armchair detectives’ and online identity as I found it very thought provoking. The fact that it could so easily be a reality made the book all the more dark and tense and Marland’s fresh and different writing style brought everything to life. The Sentence is Death by Anthony HorowitzI love the originality of Horowitz’s series featuring Daniel Hawthorne and the latest instalment was a masterfully written addition which was impossible to put down. There was humour as well as plenty of completely gripping and suspenseful scenes which left me wide eyed and enthralled. You can see all of my original reviews for the above books here: Murder in the Caribbean The Rumour by Lesley Kara The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz Sticks and Stones by Jo Jakeman My Little Eye by Stephanie Marland The Devil's Dice by Roz Watkins Bring Me Back by BA Paris The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor The Fear by C.L. Taylor
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Another year comes to an end, which means it's time for me to share my favourite books of 2017! I left it right until the last minute, as it feels fitting for it to be my last post of the year! I read so many fantastic books in 2017 that it was very hard to choose. Difficult though it was, I've finally decided on my top 9. They're in no particular order and do note that they're books I have read in 2017, they may not all have been released this year, but I've gone on when I actually read the book. Each pick has a few lines about why I liked the book, as well as a link to my original review. Finally, I just want to thank all of the authors and publishers for providing such wonderful books time after time and I look forward to working with you in 2018! My Top 9 Books of 2017The Word is Murder by Anthony HorowitzIt's difficult to put into words how much I loved this book because I enjoyed every single moment. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, the way it's written is original and Horowitz's distinctive voice comes through on every page. It's clever, compelling and completely unique. If you're looking for a guaranteed excellent read, pick up an Anthony Horowitz book. Eternity by James NealisAside from the absolutely beautiful cover of this book, (Which James Nealis so kindly sent me a copy of and which I adore) Eternity is vivid, enthralling and transported me to another world. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more from James Nealis. Don't Let Go by Harlan CobenSince this is a standalone, I think it's the ideal book to get you into Harlan Coben's writing if you're not already. The plot is packed with twists and every character has secrets which are gradually revealed and keep you hanging on to every word. It's riveting, exhilarating and emotional. I really recommend it. Not a Sound by Heather GudenkaufThis was the first book I read by Heather Gudenkauf and it certainly won't be the last. I really appreciated the level of detail included about Amelia's feelings and how she adjusted to becoming deaf. The heart pounding showdown had me frantically flipping the pages. I wholeheartedly recommend this book! Blood Sisters by Jane CorryWhat I loved most about this book was how everything just clicked into place and the ending felt so well thought out. There are so many twists which had me constantly reconsidering everything I thought I knew and I was engrossed from the very first page. Death Knocks Twice by Robert ThorogoodThis book is yet another first-class addition to the Death in Paradise series. DI Poole brings his unorthodox ways and typical 'Englishness' which you can't help but love him for and the mystery is thoroughly satisfying. Death Knocks Twice is witty, twisty and it injected plenty of sunshine into a rainy day. The Legacy by Yrsa SigurdardottirWhat a book this is! It's one of the most memorable and tense books I've read! I found myself holding my breath so many times at the brilliant writing which completely gripped me and the ending was fantastic. It was a total shock and an amazing twist which I didn't see coming at all. I had absolutely no hesitation in giving this book 5 out of 5. My Sister by Michelle AdamsIn this book, I particularly enjoyed the way that I felt as though I was part of Irini's journey and I experienced her emotions alongside her. The plot maintains tension and intrigue whilst also looking at the bond between sisters and the aftermath of a life-changing event. This is a real page-turner. Western Fringes by Amer AnwarThe themes that come through and the way that Anwar integrates the different culture into the book are what made this one of my favourite reads of the year. It is informative, insightful and action-packed all at the same time. I can't wait to read more from Amer Anwar in the future. To buy a copy of any of the above books, simply click on the photo of the book. (The links are to Amazon UK and they are affiliate links)
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