What drew me to this book was the Titanic elements. It was a mix of family saga, mystery, sleuthing and intrigue with a splash of romance too it certainly delivered. A combined contemporary and historical fiction combined. A brilliant YA title.

The story ebbs and flows through two separate past and present timelines of two young ladies; Ava (in 1912) who sails on the Titanic with her father and her beloved camera to study with a renowned photographer in America and Taylor’s (in 2010) who sets off to Oxford, England to learn about her fathers seemingly secret life. Overall the plot was brilliant it is largely centred around the two characters' relationships with their fathers.

Deception v’s a parents protective love?

I smiled to myself once I finished and I could connect the book’s title to the book's themes of grief, traumatic memory loss and parental love. I thought this was a very clever way to tie the whole plot together and part of the mystery revealed.

I enjoyed a good twist in the plot and I liked discovering the connections between the characters of past and present. The threads of romance that were woven into the story for both the girls. It was not at the centre of the plot but nicely tied in. The quality of the writing was very good. I would be happy to read more of Ashlee’s books.

There was not much to dislike at all, if anything I would say the book really picked up its pace from about 70% of the way through to the end when the mystery and plot twists came to its climax.

Reasons to read this book:
☆ If you like Historical Fiction
☆ Enjoy YA titles / books full of mystery and intrigue
☆ Are interested in the Titanic & WW1 history

I'm glad I've been able to read it thank you Netgalley & Owl Hollow Press in return for my honest review.

They say everyone has at least one book in them. A story to tell. Michael Emmett for sure has one. And an almighty one at that. This is a book about a broken child, growing up within a criminal family. It’s about living with the ripple effects of learnt behaviours living with the brokenness of abuse, addiction, grief and low self worth having to masking your way through it and all its ugliness.

This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed it immensely.

I can see how some readers may struggle with what might appear to be a glamourisation of his criminal past and the empire he grew. The trappings of criminal wealth, a boasting of what a criminal career can yield you. For him, this was his life. It is his story after all. It was did not bother me to read it. I actually had a little chuckle to myself about his criminal escapades. He was as bold as brass! And no doubt countless other criminals have been and will be for generations to come. But really at the heart of this boldness, Michael was wearing a mask throughout this dark time in his life.

Anchored by sexual abuse as a child. Having a very low self worth. Being surrounded by his father's criminal empire he had only way to go...wear the mask proudly and head into the abyss of the criminal underworld himself. Diving head fast as deep as he could. Criminals have a reputation to uphold, a presence and menacing one at that. That is part of what makes them that way. However the redemption came from behind the gates of HMP. The redemtption itself is where the beauty is in this story.

With an insightful look into the world of organised crime, the family life around that and for a hope filled redemptional conclusion where someone has its stripped away and has turned their life around for better then look no further than this book.

Thank you NetGalley and @harperinspire for my ARC in return for my honest review.

There's Nina and Connor.
There's Tabitha and Connor.
And there's Nina's diary where it all begins...

Nina writes an entry into her diary she's convinced she is going to be murdered.
Tabitha embarks on a love affair with the one who got away. Her teenage first love Connor.. Trouble is he's married to the rich, powerful Nina.

What follows is a gripping domestic thriller.

I was immediately drawn to this book from the cover and blurb. I knew it was going to be a cracker and my instincts were right. What a brilliant book!

From the get go this book gripped me and did not let up at all finishing with a satisfying ending navigated throughout by twists and turns a plenty that I really enjoyed. I liked the way the story was told through the two ladies perspectives from two different worlds in a nicely woven contrast.

For a pacy and satisfying read make sure you pack a copy of this book for your next holiday. In my opinion it's the perfect book to take away with you - a suitcase essential shall we say ;) It's perfect for me to recommend to friends with confidence they will enjoy it.

This was my first book I've read by Michele Campbell and I wouldn't hesitate to read more.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Backman is a genius writer.