Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
I received Until You're Mine as a birthday present - after putting it on my Amazon wish list! The back of the book says:
'Claudia is heavily pregnant with a much wanted baby, she has a loving husband and a beautiful home.
And then Zoe steps into her life.
Zoe has come to help Claudia when her baby arrives. But there's something about Zoe that Claudia doesn't like or trust. And when she finds Zoe in her bedroom, Claudia's anxiety turns to real fear.'
The book is written from the 1st person perspective of Claudia and Zoe and in a 3rd person narrative when focusing on the two detectives, Adam and Lorraine, and the cases that are being given to them involving pregnant women.
The book begins with a prologue in first person explaining how this anonymous woman has always wanted a baby from a young age. How she wished her dolls would come alive and how she would sprinkle magic talcum powder on her abdomen in the bath hoping she would get pregnant. The prologue ends with the sentence 'Having a baby, I decided, would be my life's mission.' It is from this prologue we understand this person clearly has an obsession with pregnancy and could possibly be mentally ill.
As the first few chapters progress we learn that Claudia is looking for a nanny to look after her unborn child and two step-children, twin five year old boys, whilst her Naval Officer husband goes back out on a mission and she continues working.
In comes Zoe who is determined to get this job and cannot stop looking at Claudia's pregnant stomach. Of course she gets the job (there wouldn't be a book otherwise) and readers start to discover that Zoe has a secret relationship with a woman named Cecelia - someone she can only contact occasionally and cannot afford to leave an electronic trace that people can track. With a determination to find everything out about Claudia - even snooping through her family's finances - things start to take a turn when Claudia catches her in her bedroom "putting up the moses basket". Claudia is in two minds as to whether she is to not to trust Zoe or whether she is just hormonal because of the pregnancy.
Whilst Zoe is obsessing over Claudia and Claudia is deciding whether to trust Zoe we have a side story involving Adam and Lorraine, the two detectives, who have been called in on a new case. Someone has killed a woman by trying to taker her baby in an at home caesarean operation. It is a gruesome murder scene that affects both characters and their home life. Adam and Zoe are a married couple in a dispute and when not at a crime scene are at home trying to parent their troubled teenage daughters.
As another attack happens the story starts to progress with more connections being made between characters and a build up to a dark, psychological twist that no one will see coming!!
This is the first book I have read by Samantha Hayes and will not be the last. She is an amazing author and this book is now probably the number one book on my recommendations list.
If you buy any book this week, month or year it has to be this one!
I was looking into the beta
reader hashtag on Twitter one day when I came across Zoe’s request for someone
to read her book before it gets released on the 19th June. As an
avid reader I couldn’t help but jump at the chance to beta read for her up-and-coming romantic comedy novel which sounded just up my street. After a few emails I was set to go with a copy of the book in my
inbox and a cup of tea in my hand.
Written in first person from the
view of Bailey, a struggling actress working in a restaurant and sharing a
flat with a student, I was hooked from page one. There are funny and relatable
moments and also shocking page turner moments where you are left screaming at
the characters to open their eyes and just fall in love. This is definitely a
book for the 18-30 age group where everyone can relate to something and have
an easy read of the hardships of romance, working life and actually trying to
have a life all at the same time.
Bailey struggles with the notion that she may not make it as a successful actress and may have to work in the diner for the rest of her life. Her best friend Mark is also her manager and he tries his best to find her the perfect roles that will keep her hopes up. As the story progresses readers are introduced to Bailey's family and friends and their opinions of how she lives her life; things soon start to look up for Bailey when she lands an under-study part in a play. She hates being around her cheating ex-boyfriend who is somehow trying to get back into her life and she wants a relationship with someone she can trust but believes she just hasn't found him yet. Think He's Just Not That Into You meets Made of Honour meets The Ugly Truth and you get the idea of where this story is going.
I presumed at first this book was
going to be for a younger audience but soon realised it fell right in with the
readers of Sophie Kinsella and Jodi Picoult – this book is definitely for the
romantic girl in all of us that is wanting to get hooked by a gritty storyline
and a deep romance that we all wish would happen but realise it actually might not. The
characters are believable and as a beta reader I had practically no criticism
to give to Zoe.
As her first novel Zoe has really
captured the life of a fast paced single girl who wants more. This is a book
you can read all year round – on the beach, by the fire at Christmas or maybe
on the bus as a distraction from your own fast paced hardworking life.
Until It Doesn't is currently available
to pre-order from Amazon as an e-Book for £1.99 but if you prefer the actual thing then paperback copies will be available to order from the release date.
Zoe is currently living in
California and writing a second novel with a young adult fantasy theme after
finding her love for all things romantic and dark. I would definitely recommend
her first book to anyone looking for a new author to get attached to or a group
of characters to fall in love with. If you want to keep up to date with all of the latest news from Zoe then follow her on Twitter or Facebook.
Let me know if you have ever been
a beta reader or what books you have waiting on your bookshelf to get lost in! xx
Until It Doesn't will be released on June 19th 2015. As a beta reader I was sent a digital copy of the book for review purposes.
I have been loving all of the blog posts and YouTube video's lately of gift guides and wish lists so I thought I would put one together of the things I have on my list that I think any blogger or YouTuber would want on theirs too!
1. Riva Digital Compact Case - I have been using the white sleeve that came with my camera as my case *slap on the hand* so I think it is time to get a proper case to keep my camera safe when I am out blogging. My camera is the Canon IXUS 265 HS; if anyone was wondering.
2. Michael Kors Mini-Bradshaw Watch - Who doesn't want a Michael Kors watch? I have a leather strap one with a brown face and it was a present to myself when I started Uni but I have been getting slightly bored with it and want a link one now. I know this won't be under my tree on Christmas morning but isn't it so pretty?
3. Grey Cosy Robin Pyjamas - Christmas pyjamas or PJ's are a must for the month of December and really put me in the mood to chill out and watch Christmas movies all day. These grey ones are from Next and they have super soft bottoms with lots of Robins on wearing Santa hats and the top has the same Robins on but underneath some Mistletoe, one of the cutest things I have seen this year.
4. Fairy Dust Candle Jar - I recently have been wondering around John Lewis looking at their new Christmas range and this candle caught my eye. They have a lovely display of Lily-Flame candles and this smells so soft and perfectly warming for a cold December.
5. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook - This is a book by Gary Vaynerchuk about using social media correctly, basically. I love getting new books at Christmas and after choosing social media as part of my research topic at Uni this book has made it to my list. If you don't know who Gary Vaynerchuk is then check him out on YouTube and you too will be hooked by his videos and his knowledge.
6. No7 Mini Eye Palette - No7 makeup brand by Boots has got to be one of my favourite brands this year. I have been using an eyeshadow palette by them for the past year and I am definitely in need of a new one! This one is perfect in a plastic case, with eight shades and has a handy mirror and double ended brush - what more could you ask for?
7. Party Time Candle Jar - This is another Lily-Flame candle from John Lewis that I have fallen in love with. I have never smelt anything like it but it smells like your bedroom after you have spent an hour getting ready to go out and you can smell that perfume you have on and the room smells sensual, soft and kind of musky. I am terrible at describing things but if you are near a John Lewis go in and smell this candle!!
8. After Dinner Drinks Selection - Who else loves a little after dinner drink at Christmas or throughout the New Year? This can be bought at Boots and features 4 small bottles and 4 mint chocolates. All bottles are 50ml and there is; 1x Cognac, 1x Port, 1x Irish Cream and 1x Amaretto. This is definitely something I would enjoy whilst watching Christmas movies or reading a Christmas book.
I have been hinting for a few things to Jensen and my sister and mum so hopefully they might see this and know exactly what is on my list!
Let me know if you have anything similar on your list too! xx
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