Tash's Book of the Month
Welcome to Tash's Book of the Month, the fabulous fiesta where I dive into a new read each month and spill the juicy deets with my no-holds-barred review! But here’s the scoop: if a book and I didn’t click, I’m not shoving it in your face. I totally respect the blood, sweat, and tears that go into crafting (and actually finishing!) a book. Just because it wasn’t my cup of tea doesn’t mean it won’t dazzle someone else! So, buckle up for a sunny spot dedicated to celebrating literary treasures and must-read masterpieces!
OCTOBER
The Girl Who Left
by Jenny Blackhurst
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the first time I've picked up a book by Jenny Blackhurst, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it.
The Girl Who Left is a story with a diverse cast of characters, each potentially hiding a secret.
Catharine lives a solitary life; apart from her neighbour and brother, she seldom has visitors. And that appears just the way she likes it thanks to her past run-ins with journalists.
She carries the unimaginable weight of being the daughter of a child murderer, with her best friend, at merely five years old, being the victim.
When another girl goes missing on Anglesey, the very place where she spent her childhood and where little Elsie Button vanished, Catharine feels an urge to return for the first time since her family left the island many years ago.
The day the current child goes missing coincides with the anniversary of Elsie Button’s disappearance, and as if that weren’t enough to disrupt Catharine’s life, her mother attempts suicide and falls into a coma.
Arriving in Anglesey, Catharine quickly realizes that even though she is trying to act like a tourist eager to assist with the search, someone knows her identity and wants her to leave.
During this period, Catharine’s world begins to unravel, and she must confront whether what she has always believed about her little friend is indeed the true story.
This book was fantastic: I was completely absorbed in the narrative, the characters, I had no idea where it would end….I love it when you have no clue right till the very end!
BLURB
Twenty-five years ago, a local girl went missing. Now, another girl comes back…
When five-year-old Elsie Button was snatched from a garden in a sleepy town on the Welsh island of Anglesey, and a local man later confessed, it sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. How could one of their own do such a thing? Especially when his own little girl was the same age – and the victim's best friend.
Kathryn and her family left under the cloak of darkness one night, unable to bear the shame, and the anger of their neighbours. She hardly remembers that time. Now, she suffers the consequences of living under an assumed name, always looking over her shoulder. Her dad has not spoken a word to her since he went to prison. She is haunted by the question: why did he kill Elsie?
When another child is taken from the same garden, twenty-five years to the day of Elsie's murder, Kathryn is determined that this time she'll be on the right side. She'll join the search and atone for her father's deed, and maybe, just maybe, get the answers she wants. But she's not prepared for the long memory of the locals, nor the risks of going back. Not everyone on the island wants the truth to come out, and they'll go to extreme lengths to stop that from happening.
Tash's BOTM: After dark
Any recommendation here are intended for an 'adult audience'. If you don't like spice (some are going to be so spicy you might even spontaneously combust) so reading will be at your own discretion and therefore, I won't be taking the blame is you are shocked/offended/or unprepared.
For those not of a nervous nature....enjoy....but only after dark!
OCTOBER
Flawless
by Elsie Silver
Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Oh gawd blimey….even I blush at this one but....I love this book and I’ll be honest, I re-read it just for you. But trust me, it was not a hardship 😊
If you’re a reader of the spicy kind, you will have undoubtably heard or read one of Elsie Silver’s books but if you haven’t, lets kick you off with Flawless.
Full transparency, I have a thing about Cowboy romance and in a previous life, I’m pretty sure I lived the ranch life somewhere like Montana. And so Rhett….well, lets just say, he just fuels my obsession. Is he grump? Hell yes! Do we like that? Yes, we do. Not in real life, obviously, but in a spicy romance, bring it on!
Rhett does not like milk., but that's fine because I couldn't drink a glass if my life depended on it! And yes, that might sound an odd thing to start off with but it’s how the MMC and FMC are brought together, albeit rather reluctantly on both of their parts.
As the daughter of Rhett’s agent, Summer lands the gig of getting Rhett’s career and reputation back on the straight (because of the aforementioned milk) and narrow whilst he finishes of the rodeo tour as a professional bull rider (jeez, could he BE more manly?)
This book has pretty much all the troupes in one: Grumpy x Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Small town romance and strong family ties.
I j'dore a good 'I hate you' vibe in my romance books as you know when it happens it's going to be electric, chemistry overload if you will.
I refuse to ruin it for you….read it. If spice and cowboys are your jam, you're going to love every page and the first time I read it, it started off an evening read and turned into an all night binge. You absolutely won’t be disappointed!!!!
I've popped the link below but at the time of posting, the series is discounted on TikTok. Additionally, the audio version is fabulous and yes, I've listened to it too because, once again, the MMC was read by one of my favourite narrators.
Please note: Flawless IS a standalone but is also part of the interconnected Chestnut Springs series.
BLURB
The rules were simple . . . Keep my hands off his daughter and stay out of trouble.
But now I'm stuck with her. There's only one bed. And, well, rules are made to be broken.
I'm the golden boy of professional bull riding. Or at least I was until it all blew up in my face. Now, my agent says I have to clean up my image, so I'm stuck with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as my "full-time supervision."
But I don't need a goddamn babysitter, especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can't stop running . . . A mouth I can't stop thinking about.
She says this means nothing.
I say this means everything.
She says there are boundaries we shouldn't cross. That my reputation can't take any more hits-and neither can her damaged heart.
I say I'm going to steal it anyway.
Tash's own book
Secrets and Lies
Just in case you are interested in reading my book, you can order via the link on Amazon. It’s available in paperback, kindle e-book and KU (if you know, you know!). I’m told it’s good… but you can always find out for yourself. Please do consider leaving a review as for newbie authors’ it’s a really great way of getting our books out there.
So what’s it about?
Lucie
I was happy being lost; it was, after all, on my terms. Meeting Jack was not part of my plan. Nor was falling in love with him. But when the unexpected happens, will he pull out all the stops to find me?
Jack
Months after living out of the country, I was tired. I wanted to rest. Who knew the girl in the coffee shop would have me chasing her down the street? But it turns out, Lucie turned out to be the love of my life and now I find myself travelling across Europe to save her.
Lucie is happily living her new life; hiding in anonymity from her family’s criminality and still grieving the death of her mother, when she meets Jack. Jack who is firmly on the right side of the law.
When Lucie receives a coded message in the middle of the night telling her to return home, she slips from Jack’s bed and his life.
But fate has other ideas for Lucie and Jack. A tearful reunion becomes a nightmare when Lucie is kidnapped. Secrets and lies are revealed and it’s a race against time for Jack to find her.
You think this is just another love story. You’re wrong. It’s a story of deliberately being lost but having no control when it happens again.
It’s a story of betrayal and paying the price for the mistakes made by those closest to you.
It’s a story of a race against time to find the one you love.
