Book Synopsis:

What happens when you lose the love of your life just three months after you meet him?Lottie Brown has finally found The One. Leo is everything she’s ever wanted – he’s handsome, kind, funny and totally gets her. Three months into their relationship, Lottie is in love and happier than ever before. But then Leo tragically dies, and Lottie is left floundering.As she struggles to stop her life falling apart, Lottie learns more about the man she thought she knew, and starts to question whether Leo really was as perfect as he seemed…The brand-new heart-breaking novel of love, loss and learning to live again, from the acclaimed author of MARRIED AT FIRST SWIPE. Perfect for fans of Paige Toon, Holly Miller and Rosie Walsh.

The One is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The One is a sweet, romantic and emotional book that I really enjoyed. It’s told in two timelines one following Lottie after the accident as she deals with her grief and the other flashing back to how the couple met and their families reaction to their meeting.

Firstly I thought Lottie was a fantastic main character who I warmed to quickly. It was heartbreaking to see her struggling to deal with her grief and crushed dreams as to where the relationship could have gone. The scenes at the funeral were very poignant and I thought it was heartbreaking to read about her standing alone on the sidelines as she didn’t know anyone. I wanted to reach into the book and give her a huge hug.

This book deals with some quite difficult subjects but somehow manages to be uplifting rather than sad which I thought was cleverly done. It’s a book about finding yourself and I found it fascinating to go on the journey alongside Lottie. It was interesting to see other people’s reactions to her grief that some understood it and wanted to help her through it, while some were surprised by it and didn’t know what to do with it as she hadn’t known Leo very well.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I managed to race through in a few days. I was sorry to leave Lottie behind as I has grown very fond of her and I’ve kept thinking about the story long after I’ve finished reading it. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to the lovely Sara Jade for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Claire Frost grew up in Manchester, the middle of three sisters. She always wanted to do a job that involved writing, so after studying Classics at Bristol University she found a job in magazines. For the last 12 years she’s worked at the Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous magazine, where she is Assistant Editor and also responsible for the title’s book reviews. She can mostly be found at her desk buried beneath an ever-increasing pile of books or at home writing funny and heart-warming novels about love, life and social media. You can follow her on Twitter: @FabFrosty, and Instagram: @therealfabfrosty.

Good morning everyone. Today on Jojorecommends I’m featuring Sailing Boat which is the new single from the lovely Zoë Wren.

Zoë is a British singer songwriter, originally from Camden in London she now resides in Switzerland. She started off her career as a busker and has now played in some in some of the largest folk festivals in Britain.

Zoe was one of the first big streamers I felt comfortable asking to feature as she was always so lovely on stream. Even though there’s lots of people in get stream Zoe is very interactive and it makes her streams really fun. She’s also the streamer who I visited when I was trying to explain to my work colleagues about twitch and who waved at us when I typed what I was doing in chat which I thought was very sweet.

If you’d like to follow Zoe on twitch or social media you can do so by clicking on the links below.

How To Listen:

Zoë’s music is available to listen to on all streaming platforms or you can buy it on Amazon or Bandcamp. Sailing Boat actually has a very cute music video to go with it which I absolutely loved. The idea came from Zoe herself and it’s a really fun video to watch. I have linked the music video for it below so you can see it for yourself along with another of her more recent originals.

Spotify Playlist:

You can now listen to Zoë and all other previously featured artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Jojorecommends on twitch

Jojorecommends is now featured on the Island Vibing Presents channel on twitch which is very exciting and has helped push me out of my comfort zone a bit. If you’d like to watch last week’s episode you can do via the link below.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

The heartbreaking new novel from the author of the international bestseller In Five YearsWhen Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mum, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, the mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and – of course – delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.And then Carol appears, healthy and sun-tanned… and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how – all she can focus on is that somehow, impossibly, she has her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman who came before.But can we ever truly know our parents? Soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.Rebecca Serle’s next great love story is here, and this time it’s between a mother and daughter. With her signature ‘heartbreaking and poignant’ (Glamour) prose, Serle has crafted a transcendent novel about how we move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.

One Italian Summer is available in ebook and hardback now. You can pre-order your copy using the links below.

My Review:

One Italian Summer is a beautiful, emotional and heartwarming read that would make a great holiday read.

Firstly i loved the author’s fantastically vivid descriptions of the Amalfi coast and the beautiful town of Postitano. I felt like I’d been transported there and was experiencing everything alongside the characters. I eagerly drank in all the wonderful descriptions and spent far to long googling it. It’s definitely a place I’d love to visit in the future.

The story follows Katy who, after her mother’s death, decided to go on the dream holiday they had planned. It was heartbreaking and very emotional to see her trying to work through her grief over her mother and my heart went out to her as I read. Once there she learns a bit more about her mother and discovers why she made some of the decisions she did.

Katy was an interesting main character and it took me a while to warm to her as I thought some of her actions were quite selfish. The plot is very absorbing and I soon felt submerged in Katy’s world. It’s not particularly fast paced at times but I didn’t care as I was enjoying learning a little bit more about Katy’s mum’s life.

Overall i liked this wonderful, escapist read which was great for reading in the storms that were battering the UK at the time.

Huge thanks to Milly Reid from Quercus for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Quercus for my copy of this book via netgalley.

About The Author:

Rebecca Serle is an author and television writer who lives between NYC and LA. Serle most recently co-developed the television adaptation of her YA series FAMOUS IN LOVE for Freeform and Warner Brothers Television. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Her bestselling US debut adult novel DINNER LIST was a Book of the Month club pick, Costco bookclub pick, and Bustle Bookclub selection.

Book Synopsis:

The sixth novel in a stunning series set in eighteenth-century Cornwall, perfect for fans of Bridgerton

Cornwall, 1800.

Imprisoned on false pretences, Madeleine Pelligrew, former mistress of Pendenning Hall, has spent the last 14 years shuttled between increasingly destitute and decrepit mad houses. When a strange man appears out of the blue to release her, she can’t quite believe that her freedom comes without a price. Hiding her identity, Madeleine determines to discover the truth about what happened all those years ago.

Unsure who to trust and alone in the world, Madeleine strikes a tentative friendship with a French prisoner on parole, Captain Pierre de la Croix. But as she learns more about the reasons behind her imprisonment, and about those who schemed to hide her away for so long, she starts to wonder if Pierre is in fact the man he says he is. As Madeleine’s past collides with her present, can she find the strength to follow her heart, no matter the personal cost?

The Cornish Captive is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Cornish Captive is a heartwarming, romantic and absorbing read that I really enjoyed.

Firstly the author has obviously done her research and I loved all the rich historical detail in this book. I hadn’t read much about the French Revolution so I found it really interesting to learn more about that period. I also have a fascination about asylums so it was interesting, though poignant, to learn more about Madeline’s experiences there. I thought the author does a great job of describing Madeline’s feelings on her release from the asylum being a mixture of relief but also being overwhelmed my things.

The story is fairly fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. Madeline’s relationship with Pierre was very interesting and helped keep me on my toes as I wasn’t sure whether to trust him. There was some lovely heartwarming moments of kindness and community spirit that was lovely to read about.

This is the sixth book in the series which I didn’t realise when I started reading. Whilst it can be read as a standalone I feel the reader would understand more about the backstory to the characters. I’d definitely like to read more of the series in future.

Huge thanks Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Corvus for my copy of this book via netgalley.

About The Author:

Nicola Pryce trained as a nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. She has always loved literature and completed an Open University degree in Humanities. She is a qualified adult literacy support volunteer and lives with her husband in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset. Together they sail the south coast of Cornwall in search of adventure.

Book Synopsis:

In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.Meanwhile, when rumours of a ‘fallen angel’ cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.

The Gifts is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Gifts is a magical, atmospheric and absorbing read which I really enjoyed. I made sure I started it when I knew I’d have lots of reading time as I knew I’d soon be lost in the story.

Firstly I absolutely loved the rich historical detail which helped to bring the story to life. It was fascinating to learn more about the era, especially the medical practices at the time some of which were very eye opening. I found myself wincing at some of the descriptions, not able to believe that that was how things used to be done. Some of the surgical scenes were very vivid and I felt I could smell the sweat and the blood sometimes as I read.

The characters were all very different creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. The story is told through 5 characters point of view, four women and 1 men, each one has a different symbol at the start of the chapter so once I got used the quick changes it was easy to keep track of. It was interesting to explore Victorian attitude towards women through the female characters and I loved seeing how they refused to give up their dreams despite societies expectations of them.

I especially enjoyed reading more about the changes in opinion as science advanced and the arguments between science and religion which had previously had such a firm grip on society. There are some quite poignant subjects discussed during the book which took me by surprise but I enjoyed exploring the subjects alongside the characters. I feel that this would make a great bookclub read as there would be lots to discuss.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book. The story gripped me from the dramatic opener to the final pages with the beautiful, haunting writing and absorbing storyline. This is a book that I’ll be recommending to everyone as it’s one of my books of the year so far!

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bonnier for my copy of this book from Netgalley, though as you can see from the picture I was enjoying the book so much I treated myself to a beautiful special edition from Waterstones too!

About The Author:

Liz Hyder has been making up stories for as long she can remember. She has a BAin drama from the University of Bristoland, in early 2018, won the Bridge Award/Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Award.Bearmouth, her debut young adult novel,won a Waterstones Children’s Book Prize,the Branford Boase Award and was chosenas the Children’s Book of the Year by TheTimes. Originally from London, she nowlives in South Shropshire. The Gifts is herdebut adult novel.

Book Synopsis:

A twisty and chilling thriller about a woman who did one bad thing when she was young… and must now suffer the consequences.

She thought she’d got away with it. She was wrong.

Hannah Godley is an agony aunt on a London radio show Queen of Hearts. She’s warm and empathetic; a good listener. Her catchphrase is: Be kind, always. But when a stranger phones in to tell a tragic story about her brother who killed himself after he was the victim of a terrible prank by two people, Hannah goes cold. Because she remembers Diane’s brother well. In fact, all these years later, he still haunts her dreams. All because of that one bad thing she did when she was young…

Is Diane just a sad, lonely woman looking for a friend, or does she know what Hannah did, and is looking for revenge? Because as Diane insinuates herself into her life and family, Hannah is going to discover that you can never truly escape that One Bad Thing you did – sooner or later, you’re going to have to pay the price…

One Bad Thing is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

One Bad Thing is a twisty, gripping thriller that you’ll be unable to out down!

Firstly I’m a huge fan of this author so I was very excited to get a copy if this his latest read. I definitely wasn’t disappointed as this was a fantastic story of obsession and revenge that was very difficult to put down.

The author has created some interesting characters who I enjoyed following throughout the book though wasn’t sure I liked. I must admit it took me a while to like Hannah as I really was sure about her. She seemed genuinely regretful about what she did but I wasn’t sure I could trust her. Diane was a fascinating character who sounded alarm bells for me me straight away as I quickly realised there was something not quite right about her. I wanted to scream at Hannah to stay away from her as I didn’t think she would bring anything but trouble.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I raced through in a few days. The story is told in two timelines one in the present day and one flashing back to the bad thing Hannah did. I liked the slow build and the way Hannah’s history is slowly revealed so the reader gets more of an overall view of what happened. There were lots of twists along the way that kept me guessing and I only figured everything out in the last few pages which I thought was very clever! I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Sophie from Head Of Zeus for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

M.K. Hill was a journalist and an award-winning music radio producer before becoming a full-time writer. The first novel in the Sasha Dawson series, The Bad Place, was described as ‘everything a police procedural should be’ by The Times, who also named it as their crime book of the month. He lives in London.

Good morning everyone and welcome to another addition of Jojorecommends! Today I’m featuring the amazing Kimarie Sky and her new EP Emora.

Kimarie Sky is a singer songwriter from Austin TX. I first discovered Kimarie on Twitch when I followed a friend onto one of her streams. I quickly fell in love with her beautiful voice and the chilled vibe on her streams. She plays a variety of originals and some wonderful originals. One of the first times I was on her stream she sang Dream A Little Dream by the Mama’s And The Papa’s to me as I was leaving to go to bed. It was an absolutely beautiful rendition and remains one of my all time favourite twitch moments.

Kimarie streams on twitch three times a week, including a Britain friendly stream on a Tuesday about 9pm.

If you would like to follow Kimarie on social media or watch her on twitch by clicking on the links below.

How To Listen:

Emora has four songs on it all of which are quite upbeat songs with a great, unusual beat to them. On stream Kimarie makes some amazing beats with her guitar which are always great to watch her create.

You can listen to Emora on all the major streaming platforms as linked below or I have included the YouTube videos for two of the songs below.

#Jojorecommends Playlist:

You can now listen to Kimarie Sky and all other previously featured artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify!

JoJo Recommends on Twitch:

Jojorecommends is now a feature on the brilliant Island Vibing Presents twitch podcast which I’m very excited about! I’m still getting used to filming myself but I’m enjoying trying something knew and am grateful for the opportunity! You can now watch last week’s episode by clicking on the link below.

Thank you for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

Tamworth, Mercia AD825.

The once-mighty kingdom of Mercia is in perilous danger.

Their King, Beornwulf lies dead and years of bitter in-fighting between the nobles, and cross border wars have left Mercia exposed to her enemies.

King Ecgberht of Wessex senses now is the time for his warriors to strike and exact his long-awaited bloody revenge on Mercia.

King Wiglaf, has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but can he unite a disparate Kingdom against the might of Wessex who are braying for blood and land?

Can King Wiglaf keep the dragons at bay or is Mercia doomed to disappear beneath the wings of the Wessex wyvern?

Can anyone save Mercia from destruction?

My Review:

Son Of Mercia is a action packed, compelling read which provided a fascinating glimpse into Dark Age Britain.

Firstly this is the first book I’ve read in this series and this book is very different from anything else I’ve read before. I felt it was part saga, part action thriller which combined made for a fantastic read!

The author has obviously done a lot of research for this book and I found it fascinating to learn more about Dark Age Britain as it was a period I knew nothing about. I loved learning more about what everyday life was like through to the warfare practices. The author also describes the medicine and surgery practices of the day including some of the herbalism and folk lore cures which I thought interesting.

The characters are great creations all very believable and easy to get behind. I particularly liked the main character Icel who was a bit of an untraditional hero as he is by nature a peace loving guy who, although being a great fighter, doesn’t actually enjoy fighting. It was great to learn more about him and to follow him throughout the book.

The tension in the book slowly increases as the story goes on until the book becomes impossible to put down. The plot is brilliant and I soon felt wrapped up in the Character’s world. I can’t wait to read more in this series!

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to
Eleventh-Century England, Android in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a
building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant
that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Book Synopsis:

The seductive and relentless figure of Raymond Chandler’s detective, Philip Marlowe, is vividly re-imagined in present-day Los Angeles

Los Angeles – a city of scheming Malibu actresses, ruthless gang members, virulent inequality and washed-out police.

Roaming the city streets is Philip Marlowe: a quiet, lonely, remarkably capable private detective, living beneath the shadow of his father – a once-decorated LAPD homicide detective now drinking his life away.

Marlowe’s latest client is tyrannical starlet Kendra James. Kendra’s husband was fatally shot near their Malibu home, but even though that murder remains unresolved, the actress is more interested in tracking down her 17-year-old stepdaughter, who hasn’t been seen for weeks.

But things get complicated after Marlowe lands a second missing person search from British academic Ren Stewart, whose ex-husband has kidnapped their seven-year-old son.

Steeped in the richly detailed ethnic neighborhoods of modern LA, Ide’s The Goodbye Coast is a bold recreation that is viciously funny, ingeniously plotted, and surprisingly tender.

My Review:

The Goodbye Coast is an very entertaining, fast paced read that breathes life into an old classic.

Firstly I loved the main character Marlow and enjoyed following him throughout the book. He’s a very funny, likeable character who is very intelligent but also human as he makes mistakes which often lead to the funnier moments in the book. I liked how the author has managed to keep the essence of the classic detective but also make it his own. He’s the best in a mainly unlikeable bunch which made it very easy to root for him.

The plot was brilliant! I thought it was really fast paced with lots of action that ensured I couldn’t stop reading. It is a bit violent in places which might not be to everyone’s taste but I felt the story wasn’t overpowered with this as there was some lighter moments and even some funny ones which helped even it out. It’s a story full of troubled relationship which were interesting to find out more about and to see how they fitted into the story.

The last reveal was brilliant and surprising which I always love as I’m often able to guess where things are going. The story does slow down a bit in the middle but do keep reading as it soon picks up!

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to W&N for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Joe Ide grew up in South Central Los Angeles. His favourite books were the Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories. The idea that a person could face the world and vanquish his enemies with just his intelligence fascinated him. Joe went on to earn a graduate degree and had several careers before writing IQ, his debut novel, inspired by his early experiences and love of Sherlock. Joe lives in Santa Monica, California.

Book Synopsis:

Cottage Two, Bracken Ridge Farm sits at the end of a pitted track, with the glorious Yorkshire moors stretching behind it.  

Just a simple two up, two down, the cottage holds the promise of a new start for two very different women, but it is also full of secrets. 

Fifty years ago, newly-wed Stella is relishing making the little cottage a happy home. But for all the lovingly handmade curtains, and the hot dinners ready on the table for her husband, Stella’s dreams of married life jar painfully with the truth.

Fifty years later, the cottage is a new beginning for Tamzin. Determined to get away from her previous life, she makes the move to the wild and vast Yorkshire countryside. 

When Tamzin finds a sepia photo of a woman, Stella, standing in the cottage’s garden, there’s a sadness in her eyes that Tamzin recognises.  As the cottage reveals more of its secrets, Tamzin is desperate to find out whether Stella got her happy ending.  And as she gradually makes new friends, and starts to win over her mysterious neighbour Euan, Tamzin dares to dream about her own happy ending too… 

Escape the rat race with this heart-warming, page-turning new novel from Jane Lovering. Perfect for fans of Julie Houston, Beth O’Leary and Kate Forster.

My Review:

A Cottage Full Of Secrets is an absorbing read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly I love the idea of running away to a desolated cottage and doing it up into something liveable so I enjoyed living precariously through Tamzin as she attempted to fix up her cottage. Her many attempts to decorate were heartwarming to read about and I loved reading about the results.

The cottage setting was beautifully described so that I felt I could see it clearly. I loved discovering all the beautiful things there especially as it brings the fantastic handy women Jill into the story. I loved exploring the garden alongside the characters and finding out more about the things they find there.

This story has a bit of everything in it I felt. It was part mystery, with the discovery of the items in the garden and Tamzin trying to discover more about Sheila. However I felt it was also a story about finding yourself which was both heartwarming and emotional at times. It was great to see Tamzin come out of her shell .

Overall i really enjoyed this book which I flew through in a couple of days. It was a very absorbing, satisfying read and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who
won the RNA Novel of the Year Award in 2012 with Please Don’t Stop the Music. She
lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have
now left home.