More Mini Book Reviews..The Backpacking Housewife, Mine, I Invited Her In

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This is not your baby.

You wake up alone after an emergency caesarean, dying to see your child.

But when you are shown the infant, you just know . . .

This baby is not yours.

No one believes you.

They say you’re delusional, confused, dangerous.

But you’re a doctor . . .

Do you trust yourself?

Because you know only one thing – You must find your baby.

Mini Book Review

Dr. Sasha Maloney gives birth prematurely by caesarian after a car crash. The one problem is that Sasha refuses to believe that the baby is hers. Is there any truth in Sasha’s claims or is she in the grips of severe postnatal depression?

For any mother, this would be the worst ever nightmare and it is a gripping and chilling psychological thriller which had me reading all night. The author has a talent for making the reader root for the main character but doubt them at the same time. Sometimes books stay with you for a long time, this is one of them.

If He Wakes by Zoe Lea

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You can always trust your best friend… can’t you?

When Rachel discovers a Twitter message arranging a romantic liaison she assumes her husband is having an affair, and follows him. What she witnesses is so much worse: a hit and run using his car.

Meanwhile, Rachel’s friend and business partner Suzie is increasingly worried about her fiance, who’s not been in touch for days. When Suzie learns of huge debts racked up in her name she fears he has run out on her, but then the threatening calls start and she thinks something terrible has happened.

Rachel and Suzie are both about to learn shocking things about the men they love, worse than they could ever imagine… Can their friendship survive?

‘A tense, pulse-quickening tale. If you read the first chapter, you can’t help but read the second. I flew through this perfect summer read of best friends in turmoil in one feverish session.’ Paula Daly 

Mini Book Review

This one grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. Two friends find themselves facing unbelievable circumstances. Rachel suspects her husband is having an affair so follows him and witnesses a terrible accident. Suzie’s partner disappears leaving her with a huge pile of debt. How do these women’s lives become interwoven?

A thrilling debut and certainly an author to look out for.

If you like a quick, pacy read with lots of mystery and strong female characters this is highly recommended.

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks

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When Mel hears from a long-lost friend in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to invite her to stay. Mel and Abi were best friends back in the day, sharing the highs and lows of student life, until Mel’s unplanned pregnancy made her drop out of her studies.

Now, seventeen years later, Mel and Abi’s lives couldn’t be more different. Mel is happily married, having raised her son on her own before meeting her husband, Ben. Now they share gorgeous girls and have a chaotic but happy family home, with three children.

Abi, meanwhile, followed her lover to LA for a glamorous life of parties, celebrity and indulgence. Everything was perfect, until she discovered her partner had been cheating on her. Seventeen years wasted, and nothing to show for it. So what Abi needs now is a true friend to lean on, to share her grief over a glass of wine, and to have some time to heal. And what better place than Mel’s house, with her lovely kids, and supportive husband…

This dark, unsettling tale of the reunion of long-lost friends is thoroughly gripping exploration of wanting what you can’t have, jealousy and revenge from Sunday Times bestseller Adele Parks.

Mini Book Review

Mel and Abi are old university friends but they have gone on to lead extremely different lives. Out of the blue Mel gets a message from Abigail asking if they can meet up. Mel is slightly starstruck by her glamorous tv presenter friend and invites her into her home.

There is no doubt that I Invited Her In is well written but my feelings towards it are a little lukewarm. Both female characters were flawed and I found Mel a little irritating. The second half is a definite improvement, the short chapters appealed to me and I would like to read more from this author. There are secrets and twists, but on the whole, the book is sadly predictable

The BackPacking Housewife by Janice Horton

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‘A feelgood read that reminds us it’s never too late to live the life you want’ 4* SUN

One mum is leaving it all behind for the adventure of a lifetime…

Lorraine Anderson was meant to be making a Sunday roast, not swanning off to Thailand, backpack in hand! But when she finds her husband and her best friend in bed together there’s only one thing to do – grab her passport and never look back!

Now, with each mile travelled Lori sheds the woman she once was and finds the woman she was always meant to be. A woman of passion and spirit who deserves to explore the great unknown…and to indulge in the temptation she encounters along the way!

Mini Book Review

Lori’s life falls apart when she finds out her husband has cheated with her best friend. She could be forgiven for climbing under the nearest rock but she doesn’t do that. Instead, she picks up her passport, grabs a backpack and heads to Thailand.

Now, this all seems like one big cliche, but don’t be put off!  The beautiful travel destinations that Lori visits on her travels are truly brought to life by Janice Horton’s exquisite writing. An inspirational and fun read about gaining independence, relishing adventures and grabbing opportunities. I loved the visit to the turtle sanctuary, I was truly envious, and all the beautiful island hopping inspired me to travel more myself.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and publishers for copies of the above books which I have reviewed honestly. The links provided are Amazon Associates affiliate links.