#readingandreviewtime

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I think there are moments in every bookworms life where they crave something completely gripping, page-turning and unputdownable. The Perfect Child, which I had never heard of before my sister @chrissireads loaned it to me, gives the reader all of this and then some! I honestly wasn’t expecting the reactions I had whilst reading this novel and although there may be a few trigger warnings, I managed to distance myself from my own personal experience and just enjoy a rollicking good story!⁣ ⁣ This is the story of Christopher and Hannah, successful in their careers as a surgeon and a nurse but sadly have been struggling with trying to conceive a child. They come into contact with Janie at the hospital, an abandoned six year old who forms an instant connection with Christopher. If they decided to adopt her, could this be the answer to all their problems? Well, no. ⁣ ⁣ Janie comes with buckets of trauma, development issues and acts out in increasingly disturbing ways, especially against Hannah who she has struggled to bond with. It’s a tense, nail-biting and terrifying and rollercoaster of a novel that proves difficult to forget and will linger on long after you’ve read the final page. ⁣ ⁣ This compelling and thrilling story was everything I needed to escape into a narrative that got under my skin and at points, gave me genuine chills. Janie is a character unlike any other that I’ve ever read and I was unashamedly here for every single moment she appeared on the pages. ⁣ ⁣ A brilliant five stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 #bookstagramuk #scottishbookstagrammer #readingandreviewtime #reviewingbooksonthegram #theperfectchild #lucindaberry #myfavouritethrillers #unforgettableread #booksandplants🌵📖 #scarychildrenfreakmeout #thrillernovelsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cps1WDarStj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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If you’ve been following my reviews for a little while, you might remember that I mentioned a re-discovered love and appreciation for both Greek mythology and classics. This beautiful and epic story by Homer ticks both these boxes and was such a treat to read alongside some other bookstagrammers/lovers of the ancient world. ⁣ ⁣ I did begin The Odyssey with a slight advantage as I studied Greek Mythology briefly at school and am quite familiar with the more famous tales. However, reading it in its full form, with an excellent translation by Rieu and (as a bonus) experiencing the joy of reading the stunning Penguin clothbound classics edition made my bookworm heart even more happy. That’s not to say that you need a good knowledge basis of the story to read and understand it - not at all. I was delighted by how accessible this text was, and reading it with others made the experience even more rewarding. ⁣ ⁣ The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ ten year journey after the end of the Trojan War back to his wife, Penelope back on Ithaca. Shr meanwhile, is currently being wooed by all and sundry 😂 and finding it increasingly difficult to refuse a proposal, holding out hope that her husband will return. On his journey, Odysseus meets a myriad of characters (and terrifying monsters), is in grave peril most of the time and learns a lot more about himself and his loved ones through his trials. ⁣ ⁣ I already want to read this again! Should I even dare to say that I enjoyed it more than The Iliad? Yes, I think I did. I much preferred the sense of adventure and the tense, “great unknown,” to the many, many, MANY fight scenes in The Iliad, interesting though it was. I’d genuinely recommend this to anyone curious and perhaps nervous to read this book. My fears were completely unfounded and it was a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable read. ⁣ ⁣ Four stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ⁣ #bookstagramuk #readingandreviewtime #theodyssey #homer #ancienttextsformoderntimes #reviewingbooksonthegram #greekmythologylover #tryingbooks #intimidatingbookbutsoworththeread #buddyreadswithfriends #greekmythologynow https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn5AgX0Lwq7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Hide or Nowhere To Hide as it is also known looked like the perfect wintry thriller to curl up with at this time of the year in the UK with the #bitcrackbookclub The synopsis proved to be intriguing - a group of seven friends meet on a nature reserve which has been opened specifically for their group to enjoy the wonders of the natural world. One of their group is killed by one of the six remaining bird lovers. Additionally, all seven have a secret which they are desperately hoping will not be revealed meaning all seven have a motive for murder. ⁣ ⁣ Who is the killer? Why did they kill? I’m still not quite sure how I can talk about this novel without being brutally honest as it wasn’t for me. As a nature/bird lover myself, I was quite excited to read about characters of the same ilk. Also, I have to say that the setting for this mystery was inspired and incredibly atmospheric. I could feel the isolation and the terror that our characters were going through as they traipsed through the secluded reserve, trying to avoid a maniacal killer with very little knowledge over who it could be or who they could trust. ⁣ ⁣ Coupled with the cold, icy weather and the blanket of snow covering the reserve, this story had all the promise of being a satisfyingly eerie read. Unfortunately, although all the bones were in place in terms of the structure, there wasn’t enough filling to give me much of what I was anticipating. In terms of characters, there was certainly representation from the Deaf and Black community which was nice to see but I didn’t really feel as if any characters stood out in the way of individuality. In fact, a few of them seemed to blend into one and more than once, I lost the thread of who they were and what their story was. Furthermore, I was hoping that the secrets held by the group would be a lot juicier - sadly, the reveals just left me rather cold (not a pun! 🤣). It’s a shame as there was certainly potential for a great story in terms of the setting. ⁣ ⁣ Two stars 🌟 🌟 #scottishbookstagrammer #readingandreviewtime #reviewingbooksonthegram #britishthrillerbook #bookstoreadinwinter #readingonmykindle #buddyreadswithfriends #honestbookreviewer https://www.instagram.com/p/CnUsZhur9so/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Keep It In The Family is only the second book I’ve read from John Marrs but I’m fast becoming a fan of his work. Thanks to the gorgeous people over at the #bitcrackbookclub for choosing this as a buddy read, it was certainly a chilling and atmospheric thriller!⁣ ⁣ This is the story of Mia and Finn who have recently bought their own home now Mia is pregnant and apart from some interfering mother-in-law issues, Mia is looking forward to the future. That is, until they find a frightening message on one of the walls - I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. ⁣ ⁣ On further investigation, they are faced with a gruesome discovery and a realisation that their new house was a place of terror and torture. Furthermore, the discovery of the horror of the past is very much lurking in their present threatening everything Mia is trying to protect. ⁣ ⁣ This really is a fantastic thriller with twists and turns that could easily keep you up all night. Just when you think you know what’s going on, Marrs throws another curveball the readers way, building the layers of shock and surprise even deeper than you could ever have anticipated. Keep It In The Family is a perfectly imagined page-turner with an exciting, breathtaking plot that is sure to delight fans of the genre. Can’t wait to read more from this author! ⁣ ⁣ Four solid stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ⁣ ⁣ #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #reviewingbooksonthegram #readingonmykindle #keepitinthefamily #johnmarrs #johnmarrsauthor #thrillernovelsallday #thrillerauthorsofig #readingandreviewtime #recommendedreads👍 #bookstokeepyouupatnight https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwfcQ9LSph/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=