ARC received from Harper Collins Australia for an honest review

This was my first Sarah Barrie read, so I wasn't sure what to expect, however I knew that the blurb intrigued me and I needed to read it.

What a dark, psychological story with touches of the gothic.

Callie's story is not a fun one, she has really been through the wringer yet come out the other side, ready to move on with her life.

Witches, monsters, all that she never believed were real have come out in force to mess with her mind. And all the while, these monsters are humans.

There are so many characters written into this story, it could at times leave you scratching your head wondering huh?, however the story it sold with such pace you are never left wondering for long, as you are swept up in the next intrigue of the story.

There were some twists and turns, and I really did not know whodunnit until Ms Barrie really wanted us to know. So many red herrings had me wondering if I knew anything!

I did have a couple of WTF moments as things were revealed - and that is a good thing. Usually I have a pretty good idea of who did it or at least where the story would go, but this time I wasn't even in the same postcode!

I enjoyed this story, and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

ARC received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

Cold and flu season has hit us here in Australia, and since I was suffering from the worst. cold. ever (you know, a dose of man flu) this weekend, I tucked myself under my blankie on my couch and devoured The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant.

This beautiful of Esther's lost love is told in dual time periods, and through 3 POV's - although I didn't feel that the 3rd POV, Eve, added to the story, and it could have all be told in Esther and Rachel's POVs.

I love how, even though decades separated them in age, there were some similarities in their lives, their adventurous spirits.

It was also an interesting look at the way mental illness was treated back in the 1950s, and how far head of the time the doctor here was.

It is a little bit predictable, and there are no surprises to how this story is going to end, however the journey that is taken is one that you want to go on with them.

Perfect for a weekend read with a hot cuppa, this was beautifully written, and will satisfy all romantics.

Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review.

Last night, I picked up this book after finishing another read, with the intent of getting it set up on my kindle to read tonight.

Welp, that didn't happen. I opened this book up to read a chapter, and I didn't put it down till I had finished it.

I felt all the reactions in this book. I felt the anger, the hurt, and oh the rage.

I have never wanted to hit a character over the head with my kindle so hard as I did Ethan. Oh man, he is such a turd!

I could understand all Tessa's fears, frustrations and all, I wanted to slap the smile of Lindsey's face.

However, as much as I liked the story, the end was lacking for me. We never got the confrontation with the cheating douchebag, and man do I feel that I want to see that.

Enjoyable, frustrating book.

ARC received for an honest review

I liked the premise of this book, and I really really wanted to love it.

However, I did like it, but didn't love it.

I think for me, the main thing I didn't like about he story was Lizzy. I just didn't feel any kind of connection with her, just didn't really like her at all. And acting like a 3 year old chucking a tantrum when you get the sh!ts is not going to endear you to me - at all.

James. Oh, how I loved the idea of James. And for the most I adored the guy, I adored how he is with family and friends. But man, FFS, the forever coming on the the woman just got to be too much, and I just wanted to yell at him through the pages - but this could just be me.

Yes, there was plenty of steam and attraction between the pair, but seriously, for me, they just didn't fit and no matter what, I could not see them together.

This is going to be one of those stories that Katy Evans readers are going to either love or hate.

This was an anomaly for me, as I have enjoyed all the other Katy Evans books I have read in the past.

Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review

I enjoyed the first book in the Sometimes In Love series, and this was the book that I was looking forward to, even when I was reading book one.

We met Bonnie and Theo during Cassie and Logan's story, however Bonnie's engagement kept her from doing anything about her attraction.

Well, he douche of a fiance, whom I never liked in the first book, graciously takes himself out of the picture, letting the love run free for our lovelies.

Oh, things are never easy, family and a sense of duty making themselves known. Just like Bonnie's very own Austen novel (I loved the Austen references).

I liked getting more of the girls from the big European adventure, and loved getting to know Theo's sisters.

There were a couple of places where this book did drag a little, however they didn't last long.

Theo was the dashing hero whom I couldn't help but adore.'

Now I can't wait to dive into the 3rd book.

ARC received from Simon and Schuster Australia for an honest review

I am a late comer to the Robert Hunter series, and this is only the second book in the series that I have read, however that has not affected my reading of them in any way. I believe that this story does hark back to an earlier book in the series though.

Robert Hunter is now the focus of a serial killer - someone he helped put away, someone he has known a long time.

Oy, Lucien Folter is all kinds of bad and evil and horrible. He takes us on a dark, gripping psychological journey across the USA, never knowing where he is going to turn up and what he is going to do next.

I am right into a binge of crime books at the moment (I swear, if I ever got caught for a crime it would be my own fault. I should know all the ways to cover my tracks by now lol) however the Robert Hunter series is a cut above a lot of what I have been reading.

I can't help but rush to turn the page to find out what is going to happen next. I can't help but feel with the main characters (not our killer of course), the highs and the lows of their cases and how it affects their lives .

There are so many twists and turns in this story, that you are never quite sure where you are going to find yourself next.

I will need to go back and read the first 8 Hunter books, and I look forward to seeing where this series takes us next.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

This is the 3rd book in the Sometimes In Love series, however it could be read as a standalone - and to me, most the time reading I forgot there were 2 books before this one!

This is a lovely second chance romance - I mean, most of us love one of them, don't we?

Childhood friendships, firsts for everything, first heartbreaks.

At different times throughout the book, I disliked both Sadie and Bo, however as the story progressed I got over that. They both have such different outlooks on what caused them to be apart, you can't help but understand their feelings.

And oh those feelings - there is still that spark between them that has never dimmed.

I did like the little glimpses of the couples from the first two books, however liked that that they were not a big part in this story, as Bo and Sadie needed all the time to get their sh!t together.

Sweet, sexy and emotional, I think this is my favourite of the three books so far.

Now I need Ava and Delancey's story ASAP.

Oh, and I need a doughnut!

Woot! Another Sawyer Bennett hockey hottie to add to my collection!

If you have read the earlier books in this series, you will have already met Dax - if you haven't - why not?? You are missing some awesomeness.

Dax kind of runs parallel to the previous book Legend, and it was wonderful to see some of the stuff from Legend's book from another perspective.

Dax is my kinda man. Takes no sh!t, looks after those he loves - even if it is in a very alpha way - and just took my heart with him when the book ended.

This book is an emotionally draining book at times, as Dax and Regan navigate their way to their new "them". I laughed, I shed a couple of tears, I got frustrated and angry and hopeful as well.

We also get more set up for Tacker's story -this is the one I am really, really hanging out for, as well as Dominik's story. Oh, this one is going to be a fiery one me thinks!

Each and every time I pick up a Vengeance book, I tell myself it can't be as good as the last one, however Ms Bennett has not disappointed me yet.

Gimme, gimme, gimme Dominik and Tacker's books now - please. I need them in my life!

I read A Beautiful Struggle a while back, and it was great to come back to the revised and revisited version years down the track.

The Katrina/David/Elliott (there is no cheating!!) still gets me. I love the Harry/Sally men and women can't be friends thing that Katrina and David have going on.

Elliott - yeah I am still p!ssed at him after all these years hahah. I love him but I hate him all over again.

I love the setting in Western Sydney, being a Penrith girl, I loved the locations - I spent plenty of nights at the "Irish pub in Emu Plains" over the years!

I did feel that the ending, even though it was what i wanted all along, is going to annoy some people still, but not this old duck!

Emotional, gutwrenching, yet full of hope and love, A Beautiful struggle is a great start to the Beautiful series.