Recent reads

I read a lot.  I could go as far as saying I prefer reading to watching tv.  I love how you can get lost in a book, how your imagination can just run wild.  I can be very anti social when I find a good book and have often forgotten to eat and sleep because I'm so caught up in a great story.

Five Recent Reads

1.  Behind Her Eyes - Sarah Pinsborough

This story follows the life of a divorced single mother who has an affair with her boss while developing a friendship with his wife.  You can tell from the onset that the wife has an agenda but I can guarantee you will NOT predict the ending.  It is a bit strange in that there's a supernatural-ish element to the story but if you can live with that then you'll really enjoy this book! 9/10

2.  Silent Child - Sarah A. Denzil

I found this book very sad.  Emma's son Aiden goes missing during a flood.  10 years later Emma is pregnant and married.  She gets a phonecall to say Aiden has been found, alive.  Aiden doesn't speak though, so they can't find out what happened to him.  It's a brilliant story as it keeps you guessing.  Is Aiden dangerous?  What happened to him?  Why won't he speak?  I read this in a day and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery! 7/10

3.  The Stolen Marriage - Diane Chamberlain

I love Diane Chamberlain!  I've read tonnes of her books and find her writing similar to that of Jodi Picoult who would be my all time favourite writer.  The Stolen Marriage is about Tess, a young Italian American girl engaged to her childhood sweetheart.  When things go awry Tess breaks off the engagement, runs away and marries a complete stranger.  Cut off from her previous life, Tess is lonely and her husband and his family are cold and closed off.  It's obvious Tess's husband is up to something but Tess is trapped.  This story really tugs at the heart strings and I finished it in less than a week. 8/10

4.  The Breakdown - B A Paris

This is the second B A Paris novel I've read and definitely my favourite of the two.  Cass takes a shortcut home on stormy night.  On her way she sees a car broken down.  She pulls over to help but changes her mind and drives off.  The next day it's reported in the news that a local woman has been murdered.  The woman that Cass saw in the broken down car.  After that things get even more sinister, silent phone calls, parcels arriving that Cass doesn't remember ordering, forgetting important appointments.  Cass is convinced someone is watching her, or is she just going mad?  From start to finish this book had me HOOKED.  I was away in Portugal at the time and devoured this by the pool.  It's a real page-turner and a fantasic holiday read. 9/10

5.  The Cows - Dawn O' Porter

This is Dawn's debut adult novel and a real showstopper.  It's one to make you think and there's definitely a character in the book that you'll find you can relate to on some level.  The story is about three women and how an event that catapults Tara into an overnight viral sensation, links the three women together in 'ways they could never imagine'.  It's witty, feminist, clever and sharp.  I loved this book and look forward to see what Dawn writes next. 10/10

What good books have you read recently?  Please comment with some recommendations.  I'm always looking for new reads.  Lesley :) x