What I've Been Reading: May 2019.

Thanks to Mcdonalds Monopoly I won a 2 month subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I think most of, maybe even all the books I read in May are available to subscribers but I'll be sure to list the normal kindle prices as well.

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Hannah Moskowitz

Current kindle price: £3.19 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Taylor Cipriano had everything figured out, back when she lived with her single mother in Miami. Now, she's moved upstate for her junior year to live with her mom's boyfriend and soon-to-be-stepsister and is trying to figure out who she is out of the shadow of her best friend. When she meets Theo- quirky, cute, sensitive Theo- he seems like a great match... Except he has a girlfriend. Josey, icy, and oh-so-intimidating.

But Theo and Josey aren't like anyone Taylor's met before; Josey grew up in a polyamorous family, and the two of them have a history of letting a third person into their relationship. It's nothing Taylor's ever considered before... but she really likes Theo.

Her feelings for Josey though?

That's where it really gets complicated."

This was a different read, especially when it comes to YA romance. The highlight for me was the relationship between Taylor and Josey. This wasn't a book I devoured hungrily but it was a steady grower that held my attention and gave me an interesting look at polyamorous relationships and how people perceive them. One annoying thing? There are so many spelling and grammar mistakes in this, more than any book I've ever read.

The Stranger Beside Me

Ann Rule

Current kindle price: £4.58 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"When Ann Rule and Ted Bundy became friends while working at a Seattle crisis clinic in 1971, she had no idea that her kind, charismatic co-worker would go on to become one of the world's most notorious serial killers, who confessed to murdering at least thirty-six women across America.

In The Stranger Beside Me, Rule details not only her personal relationship with Bundy, but his life; covering everything from his complicated childhood to the media circus revolving around his trials, and his eventual execution."

If you were going to read a book on Ted Bundy, this would be the one to go for. It's a long read, detailing events before the murders when Ann met Bundy and concluding with his execution. The foreword is the most interesting to me. The book has been rereleased so many times and the before the book properly starts, it includes near misses with Bundy that scores of women wrote to Ann about and while she doubts that all of them that she received are real, the ones included in the book are ones she felt were genuine encounters. They're chilling to read.

The book itself is also great but extremely long. It took me ten days to finish this! I highly recommend it though.

Bless Her Heart

Blakney Fancis

Current kindle price: £1.99

"Scarlet, Alabama doesn't know what to make of Sloan Averley. She's an outsider, as wild as she is beautiful, and so much trouble even her Yankee parents didn't know what to do with her. But she's their beloved high school football coach's granddaughter and this is THE year... The year that blue chip recruit and quarterback protege Courtland Mckenzie carries them on his very capable shoulders all the way to their first state championship.

As a surprising common goal is forced upon them, Sloan and Courtland's very different worlds collide and clash. The town's golden boy and the rebellious beauty: they have as much contempt for one another as they do fascination.

Can Sloan find a way to accept the dark past she can't change in the last place she ever thought to look: on a football field? Will Courtland be able to create a balance in his life before his promising future slips away? They have to go through each other to get what they want, but time's running out- the season's almost over."

I wasn't sure what to expect with this. I finished it but I was going through the motions. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. I wouldn't even say I liked it really. It was okay.

Em & Em

Linda Budzinski

Current Kindle price: £3.19 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"The last thing sixteen-year-old Emily Slovkowski wants is to move away from her home at the Jersey Shore, gorgeous surfer boyfriend Zach, and her entire identity. But that's kind of how Witness Protection works, and Em must prepare herself for an epic do-over as she starts a new life in the Midwest.

Even as she pines for sandy beaches and the night life of the shore, the newly-named Ember O'Malley finds herself making new friends, taking photos for the high school newspaper, and thinking an awful lot about the paper's editor, and oddly cute cowboy named Charles.

When Em stumbles upon a shady beneath-the-bleachers exchange between one of the school's football coaches and a student, she refuses to get involved. The last thing she needs is to be witness to another crime or call attention to herself. Besides, she finally has some real friends- well, real except for the fact that they don't know a single thing about her- and she prefers to keep it that way until the trial.

But as her day in court approaches, Em begins piecing together what she saw that day beneath the bleachers. And, as her own past secrets start to catch up with her, Em needs to figure out who she really is- Em or Em."

This was a good read. It switches between present and flashbacks before the move so you get to learn about both sides of Emily's life. I grew to care about Emily and I just wanted her to be happy, especially after reading the flashbacks. 

Ted Bundy: The Horrific True Story Behind America's Most Wicked Serial Killer

Ryan Becker

Current Kindle price: £3 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"A murderer's tale is not always shrouded in darkness, trauma and failure to perform as a normal person. Some killers are just as successful in life as those around them or even more so. They are able to function as any regular human being and charm their communities and victims into believing that they are of a good, pure nature.

Ted Bundy was a handsome, charming and ambitious man who carried his hatred deeper and more hidden than any other murderers do. He was able to lead a life that included normal friendships and relationships, and he even got far as both a student and a politician.

But the hatred was there... It was always there...

Bundy ended the lives of over thirty young women, ensuring that their final moments were ugly and violent. His torture methods were cruel, and there was no mercy shown to each female as he bludgeoned, strangled or cut them.

Ted Bundy- The Campus Killer- a name of nightmares. This is his story."

Only one thing to say here, skip this. Read The Stranger Beside Me instead! 

Verity

Colleen Hoover

Current Kindle price: £3.80 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin. When Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, asks Lowen to complete the remaining books in a contract his permanently injured wife is unable to fulfill, Lowen has no choice but to accept.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home with the intention of only staying one or two nights- long enough to sort through Verity's chaotic home office to collect all the notes and outlines she'll need to start writing the first novel. But the more time Lowen spends with Jeremy Crawford, the less of a hurry she is in to leave.

While there, Lowen discovers a hidden manuscript. An autobiography containing chilling admissions Verity planned to take to her grave, including the truth behind the events that turned their lives upside down. A truth that, if revealed to Jeremy, would firther devastate the already grieving father. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript a secret, allowing Jeremy to continue to believe Verity is merely an innocent, unfortunate victim of circumstance.

But as Lowen's feelings for the devoted father and husband deepen, she wonders if keeping Jeremy in the dark is in her own best interest. After all, if Jeremy were to read his wife's autobiography, the disturbing truth would make it impossible for him to continue to love her."

I'll be honest here, I've never been a big fan of Colleen Hoover books. I've read a couple and her YA romance books jusg don't to it for me at all. But this? This was my favourite book I read in May and IT. IS. AMAZING. 

This is such a well written psychological thriller that kept me guessing til the very end. It's taken me a while to get there but I finally understand the Colleen Hoover hype.

You can read previous posts of What I've Been Reading here.

What were you reading in May?

Danni

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What I've Been Reading: April 2019.

I've been slacking lately when it comes to posting and even the April edition of What I've Been Reading is late. Anyone else get these slumps when it comes to blogging?! April was a standard month when it came to reading, I finished a total of six which is about my average for a whole month.

Nina Is Not OK

Shappi Khorsandi

Current kindle price: £4.99

"Nina does not have a drinking problem. She likes a drink, sure. But what 17-year-old doesn't?

Nina's mum isn't so sure. But she's busy with her new husband and five year old Katie. And Nina's almost an adult after all.

And if Nina sometimes wakes up with little memory of what happened the night before, then her friends are all too happy to fill in the blanks. Nina's drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend.

But then one dark Sunday morning, even her friends can't help piece together Saturday night. All Nina feels is a deep sense of shame, that something very bad has happened to her..."

Well, this was a brilliant read. I could hardly put it down. It has everything, funny moments and angsty moments plus characters you grow to care about. At times I was horrified by some of Nina's drunken decisions but the book comes full circle to the night in the first chapter, making this an important story not just about addiction, but also consent.

Some Boys

Patty Blount

Current Kindle price: £4.91

"Some girls say no. Some boys don't listen.

When Grace meets Ian, she's afraid. Afraid he'll reject her like the rest of the school, like her own family. After she accuses Zac, the town golden boy, of rape, everyone turns against her. Ian wouldn't be the first to call her a slut and a liar.

Except Ian doesn't reject her. He's the one person who looks past the taunts and the names and the tough-girl act to see the real Grace. He's the one who gives her the courage to fight back.

He's also Zac's best friend."

I'd never read anything by Patty Blount before but after this, the majority of her books have been added to my to read list! It reminded me alot of All The Rage by Courtney Summers that I read the month before and while I did prefer that, this was still great. Ian and Grace's story continues One Girl but I haven't read that yet.

The Impossible Vastness of Us

Samantha Young

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"India Maxwell hasn't just moved across the country- she's plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It's taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she's living in one of Boston's wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom's fiance and his daughter, Eloise. 

Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister's clique of friends, including Eloise's gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend, Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India's not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school's golden couple, aren't all they seem to be. In fact, everyone's life is infinitely more complex than it first appears.

And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what's left are truths that are brutal, beautiful and big enough to change them forever."

I loved this! It was amazingly well written and the storyline intertwined the three main characters perfectly. Some parts were a little predictable, I'd guessed what Eloise's secret was before it was revealed but it didn't make me love the story itself any less. A definite recommend.

The Magpies

Mark Edwards

Current Kindle price: £1.99 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

"When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together, they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too, including the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.

But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie's best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.

As they are driven to the edge of despair, Jamie vows to fight back- but he has no idea what he is really up against..."

Well, as someone who is in a couple saving for our first home, I can safely say a flat is crossed off that list! This was a disturbing read, especially when it is partially based off the author's own experiences. This is one of my favourite psychological thrillers I've read so far this year.

Things We Know By Heart

Jessi Kirby

Current Kindle price: £4.49

"After Quinn's boyfriend, Trent, dies in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the fragments of her now-unrecognizable life. But whoever received Trent's heart has chosen to remain silent. The essence of a person, Quinn has always believed, is in the heart, If she finds Trent's, then in a way, she will still have a piece of him.

Risking everything to get closure once and for all, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas, whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into something more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it- especially since he has no idea how they're connected- but the time Quinn spends with Colton makes her feel alive again. No matter how hard she's falling for Colton though, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she's lost... and all that remains at stake."

This was a sad but cute read. It didn't blow me away or anything but was it was well written. The story is a little predictable but if you're into this sort of thing, you'll probably enjoy it.

Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line

Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham

Current Kindle price: £4.99

"Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is no simple missing person's case; the house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica in plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined."

The season 4 revival of Veronica Mars comes out this summer and articles online stated that events in these books, which take place after the film, are canon to the series. So I obviously had to read it! The second book isn't available as an ebook, which is annoying but the first one is. My verdict? It's fab, the dialogue is fitting to all the characters we've grown to know already, especially Veronica's and Dick's. I could practically hear Ryan Hansen saying "Handies only" as I was reading. And if you haven't watched the series yet? Well, I'm biased as it's one of my favourite shows but where have you been?! It has a highly dedicated fanbase for a reason so give it a try, you'll most likely love it!

What were you reading in April? Have you read any of these before?

You can read previous posts of What I've Been Reading here.

Danni

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What I've Been Reading: February 2019.

Does anyone else go through phases where you're suddenly really picky with what you'll read? That what it felt like for me in February. I buy lots of kindle books in one go and make me way through them. Usually they'll be a couple I'll give up on and end up removing from my device but wow, February, I gave up on a lot! Here are the ones I actually finished...

Bruised 

Sarah Skilton

Current Kindle price: £4.03

"When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else- more responsible, more capable. But now that her sense of self has been challenged, she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shoot-out."

This book falls right in the middle for me; didn't love it, didn't hate it. It was pretty good for a debut novel and I'd read something else by the same author if it sounded like my kind of thing.

Liar

K.L. Slater

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Single dad Ben is doing his best to raise his children, with the help of his devoted mother Judi. And then Ben meets Amber. Everyone thinks this is the perfect match for Ben but Judi isn't so sure...

There's something about Amber that doesn't add up. Ben can't see why his mother dislikes his new girlfriend. And Amber doesn't want Judi anywhere near her new family. Amber just wants Ben and the children.

The further Judi delves into Amber's personal life, the closer she gets to shocking secrets that could change everything. And Judi must make a decision that could lead to the most disastrous consequences."

I really enjoyed this one. I didn't see the twist coming, it turned out I ended up rooting for the opposite person in the end! KL Slater is a great author, I'd previously read The Mistake and while I think I preferred that, this is still a great read.

The Space Between Us

Jessica Martinez

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Amelia is used to being upstaged by her charismatic younger sister, Charly. She doesn't mind, mostly, that it always falls to her to cover for Charly's crazy, impulsive antics. But one night, Charly's thoughtlessness goes way too far, and she lands both sisters in serious trouble.

Amelia's not sure she can forgive Charly this time, and not sure she wants to... but forgiveness is beside the point. Because Charly is also hiding a terrible secret, and the truth just might tear them apart forever."

Another one that falls down the middle. It took me longer than it should of to finish it, I just wasn't dragged into the story very quickly.

Undone

Cat Clarke

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend. Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it.

Then the unspeakable happens. Kai is outed online... and he kills himself.

Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back. But she wants to know who was responsible. And she wants to take them down."

My favourite book of February! I love Cat Clarke, which you might have realised if you've read my previous What I've Been Reading posts. This was amazing, I couldn't put it down. Proof that you shouldn't give up reading YA just because you're far, far past your teen years! This is a definite recommend, but We Are Young is still my fave by Cat Clarke.

What I didn't Say

Keary Taylor

Current Kindle price: £3.09 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it."

This was a cute read. I loved Jake and Samantha's story. It was a great introduction to Keary Taylor.

What were you reading in February?

Danni

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What I've Been Reading: January 2019

A new reading year! I think my total of finished books last year was 73 so that's what I'm aiming to top this year. I only finished 4 in January but for the first time ever, I'm going to include a book I didn't finish in these posts and I'll get into the reason why.

Freeing Carter

Nyrae Dawn

Current Kindle price: £2.30

"His whole life Carter's fought to hold it together: To help Mom run their store. To be there for his special needs sister, Sara, and be the perfect boyfriend Mel wants. To dominate on the basketball court- the only place he ever feels free. And to carry Mom up the stairs when she's too smashed to make it up on her own.

It isn't like she has a problem. Mom loves them. If she doesn't drink every day, she's not really an alcoholic, right?

Wrong.

Then Kira Dawson, a girl with a bipolar wardrobe and rotating hairstyles comes to town. Somehow, she sees the truths he hides from the world. 'You have skeletons too, Carter Shaw. Don't think I don't know it.' For the first time, he wants someone to see his inner scars- to really know him.

When his mom finally goes too far, will Carter be able to man-up, even if it means turning his back on her and stepping out from behind the facade he's fought so hard to keep in place?"

This was a good read but it didn't hook me in so that I had to keep reading it. It took me over a week to finish. I just wasn't invested in the characters much. 

Hollow Pike

Juno Dawson

Current Kindle price: 99p

"Something wicked this way comes....

She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her.

Lis thinks she's being paranoid- after all, who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark- and a twig snaps...

Hollow Pike- where witchcraft never sleeps."

Juno Dawson is one of those author where I know I can buy a book by them and it's automatically going to be good. I loved this, and Say Her Name & All of The Above were the same. I wasn't sure what to expect from the synopsis but this hooked me in from the get go. There are a lot of characters in this but it's easy to keep up with who's who and the storyline is brilliant. A definite recommend.

Paranormal Intruder

Caroline Mitchell

Current Kindle price: £1.99 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"An innocent family finds itself completely helpless against the sudden onset of paranormal activity in their quiet rural home. A knife embedded in a kitchen cupboard, crockery smashed by invisible hands, and blood-chilling growls emit from thin air.

Caroline and her husband Neil search for answers as they try to protect their family from the unseen entity that seems determined to rip them apart. The biggest question looms over them like a dark cloud... who is going to help us? There are emergency services for many things, but not of this nature. It might be easier to believe temporary insanity, if not for the vast amount of witnesses. Police, fire services, mediums, priests and investigators all become embroiled in the mystery.

The family struggles to cope, and Caroline grows concerned for her husband's failing health as he withdraws from the world. However, the entity has only just begun."

I'd only read one book from Caroline Mitchell before and that was Silent Victim, was of her fiction books. This is a true account of the activities that she and her family were victims of. I'll be honest here, I didn't finish this. Because I was scared shitless! I only read the first few chapters and it gave me nightmares. What I did manage to read was interesting and well written so if this sounds like something you'd want to read, I'd say go for it!

Wishing For Someday Soon

Tiffany King

Current Kindle price: £2.63

"Seventeen year old Katelyn Richards is a stronger person than anyone will know, and that is just the way she wants it. Behind her normal facade lies the reality of a broken home life. Thanks to her abusive mother, a string of deadbeat stepfathers, and an unsympathetic system, Katelyn has learned that the only one she can count on is herself. Her life's mission has become to shield her nine year old brother, Kevin, and to give him the future they both wish for. A life with no more abuse, no worries about where their next meal will come from, and no more wondering is they will have a roof over their heads.

When her mother moves them again, this time to a small town in Montana, Katelyn's resolve is shaken when she meets Max, a cute boy from her new school, who gets a glimpse into her real world. Max slowly manages to break through Katelyn's wall of distrust, stirring up feelings she never saw coming. Now with her world more complicated than she ever intended, Katelyn struggles with the decision to follow her heart into the arms of the first boy she has ever loved. A decision that could risk the promise she made to protect Kevin, and to give them the 'someday soon' that is so close within their grasp."

This is the first book I've read by Tiffany King and I feel the same about this as I did about Freeing Carter. Good story but I wasn't invested in the character, but I did prefer this one out of the two.

Yours Truly

Kirsty Greenwood

Current Kindle price: £2.99 or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Twenty-seven-year-old Natalie Butterworth is an easy-going girl. She'll do anything for a quiet life and if telling a few teensy white lies keeps her friends and family happy, then so what? It's not like they'll ever discover what she's really thinking... Until one night, thanks to a pub hypnotist, Natalie's most private thoughts begin to bubble up and pop out of her mouth. Things get very messy indeed, especially when some sticky home truths offend her fiance. 

Natalie must track down the hypnotist before the wedding is officially cancelled. So along with bad influence bestie Meg, Natalie finds herself in the Yorkshire parish of Little Trooley- a small village bursting with big secrets, nosy old folk and intriguing Wellington-wearing men. When the girls get stranded in the village with no means of escape and no way to break the hypnotist's spell, Natalie is forced to face the truths she has been avoiding her whole life..."

What an enjoyable read! A light hearted book that had me chuckling to myself as I read it, this is brilliant. The idea behind it is original but believable and I really felt for Natalie, especially when her sister and mum buy her a wedding dress without asking her. 

You can read previous post of What I've Been Reading here.

What were you reading in January?

Have you read any of these before?

Danni

X

What I've Been Reading: December 2018.

A new month and a new year, but in the month leading up to it, I was on a reading roll. Want to know what books I managed to finish? Just keep reading.

See How They Lie

Sue Wallman

Current Kindle price: £2.25

"Mae believes the reason she's lived all her life in a psychiatric hospital is because her father is a psychiatrist. Everyone says she's lucky to be there. With its high-end facilities and 24-hour surveillance, no one could be safer. But why is she being watched too? And how come she can never leave?"

I'm on the fence with this. The story was interesting but there was far too much build up for a very anti-climatic ending. I felt myself growing frustrated at the characters for going along with such  cult like rules. I didn't dislike it as such, it just fell a bit flat for me.

Not That Kind of Girl

Siobhan Vivian

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"Slut or saint? Good friend or bad friend? In control or completely out of it?

She's avoided boys, always topped her class and is poised to become the first female student council president in years.

But being the good girl isn't always easy. Not when Natalie's advice hurts more than it helps. Not when a boy she once dismissed becomes the one she can't stop thinking about. Soon Natalie's learning that the line between good and bad is fuzzier than she thought and crossing it could end in disaster... or be the best choice she's ever made."

Well, this was disappointing. I really liked The List by the same author but I really didn't like this. Mostly unlikable characters and I don't think the author has any idea of what message she wanted to send across with this book. Natalie, the main character, is judgmental and selfish. Anyone with a different opinion to her is wrong and she likes to act like she's a big feminist while basically slut shaming her female classmates. Nope, hard pass on this.

Kiss Me in New York

Catherine Rider

Current Kindle price: £2.67

"Does it really take ten steps to mend a broken heart?

Charlotte is a British student, waiting for a flight home after the worst semester of her life. Anthony is a native New Yorker, surprising his girlfriend at the airport after three months apart. Charlotte has just been dumped, and Anthony is about to be dumped, right in the middle of the holiday crowd.

Charlotte's flight is cancelled when a blizzard blows in, and Anthony can't bear to go home. So, they set out into the city together, clutching a book Charlotte picks up in the airport gift shop: Ten Easy Steps got Getting Over Your Ex. For this one night, they'll focus on healing their broken hearts... together.

Step-by-step, the two struggle to put the past behind them. But soon the city and the snow work some magic. Will their shared misery give way to something else before Charlotte leaves New York forever?"

I couldn't go through the whole of December without reading at least one Chistmas book, could I?! This is set over Christmas Eve and is a really cute read. I really liked both characters, though I liked Anthony's story arc a little more than Charlotte's. A definite recommend.

Stealing Heaven

Elizabeth Scott

Current Kindle price: £2.99

"Dani has been trained as a thief by the best- her mother. Together, they move from town to town, targeting wealthy homes and making a living by stealing antique silver. They never stay in one place long enough to make real connections, real friends- a real life.

In the beach town of Heaven, though, everything changes. For the first time, Dani starts to feel at home. She's making friends and has even met a guy. But these people can never know the real Dani- because of who she is. When it turns out her new friend lives in the house they've targeted for their next job and the cute guy is a cop, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known- or the one she's always wanted."

I quite liked this, I found the relationship between Dani and her mother really interesting. The writing style was flawless and I've added more by Elizabeth Scott to my to read list since I've finished this.

What Happens Next

Colleen Clayton

Current Kindle price: 99p

'How can you talk about something that you can't remember?

Before the ski trip, Cassidy "Sid" Murphy was a cheerleader (on the bottom of the pyramid, but still...) and a straight-A student, with two of the best friends a girl could ask for.

When Sid finds herself on a ski lift with hunky local college guy, Dax Windsor, she's thrilled. '"Come to a party with me," he tells her, but Dax isn't what he seems. He takes everything from Sid- including a lock of her perfect red curls- and she can't remember any of it.

After the ski trip, Sid is an insomniac and an obsessive late-night runner, unable to relate to her old friends.

Caught in a downward spiral, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey "The Living Stoner" Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey- slaker, baker, total dreamboat- Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if only she could shake the nightmares, everything would be perfect..."

I've definitely found an author I love in Colleen Clayton. Nearer to the start of 2018 I read Doll Hearts and really liked that, but this is even better. There were many tears shed as I neared the conclusion of this book. A must read, in my opinion and when Colleen Clayton releases another book, I'll be there with bells on!

Entangled

Cat Clarke

Current Kindle price: £1.99

"Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with table, pens and paper- and no clue how she got there.

As Grace starts writing, pouring her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget: falling hopelessly in love with Nat, and the unravelling of her friendship with her best mate Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all.

Why is she here?"

I really enjoy Cat Clarke as an author even if I'm not exactly the target audience. This isn't one of my favourites by any means but the story was gripping and I could hardly put it down. If I had to recommend just one Cat Clarke book, it would have to be We Are Young. It was my favourite book I read in the whole of 2018 and I can't rave about it enough to do it justice. Just read it!

Copy Cat

Alex Lake

Current Kindle price: 99p

"When an old friend gets in touch, Sarah Havenant discovers that there are two Facebook profiles in her name. One is hers. The other, she has never seen.

But everything in it is accurate. Photos of her friends, her husband, her kids. Photos from the day before. Photos of her new kitchen. Photos taken inside her house.

And this is just the beginning. Because whoever has set up the second profile has been waiting her Sarah to find it. And now that she has, her life will no longer be her own..."

What a great read for 99p! I'd previously read Killing Kate and enjoyed that, so I had high expectations going into this. It didn't disappoint. If you like a good thriller, then this is one to add to your list.

Everything's Not Okay

Laura Tucker

Current Kindle price: 99p or free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

"Kate is a 17-year-old college drop-out with anger issues and a severe lack of self control. But save your judgements until you've heard her story.

Forced into a one-month stretch at a mental health clinic for adolescents, surrounded by nothing but teen nutcases and her own thoughts, Kate tries to distract herself from feelings of emptiness with the warm bodies of James and Aiden, two people with problems as complex as her own.

As her relationships develop at a pace she can't keep up with, Kate gradually realises she must face up to her mistakes if she's ever going to forgive herself and move on. But is everything screwed up beyond repair?"

This is Laura Tucker's debut novel and I wouldn't have guessed that just by reading it. The writing style flows brilliantly and the story itself kept me gripped from the start. An author to keep an eye on!

Check out previous months of What I've been reading:

November 2018.

October 2018.

September 2018.

August 2018.

July 2018.

June 2018.

What were you reading in December?

Danni

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