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!
APRIL
Love of my Afterlife
by Kirsty Greenwood
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before you go any further, grab your popcorn because this book is apparently strutting its stuff onto the big screen!
I’m sending my good vibes into the universe that they don’t turn it into a cinematic train wreck like they did with PS, I Love You (the book? A divine masterpiece; the film? A chaotic bin fire!).
Our poor girl Delphine bites the dust mid-burger—talk about a tragic end to a mundane life! Then she waltzes into Heaven, which, hilariously enough, looks suspiciously like a laundrette, where she’s offered a do-over consisting of just 10 days to find the man she believes is her soulmate.
I seriously loved this book; it had me laughing, cringing like I was watching a bad reality show, and fully invested—yes, even in the most outrageous scenes. I loved how ‘real’ it all felt.
Kirsty Greenwood has this incredible knack for capturing everyday folks living their everyday lives until—WHAM!—life throws a curveball! But isn’t that just how the cookie crumbles? I thoroughly recommend this book, it’s good for a beach read or curling up in your favourite chair on a rainy day.
Blurb:
If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. She’s entered the afterlife wearing the sort of pyjamas you don’t want anyone to see and finds herself face-to-face with the most handsome man she’s ever encountered. And he’s smiling at her.
As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise – until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth.
In a twist of fate, Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to her previous life and reconnect with the mysterious man she’s sure is her soulmate.
The challenge? She only has ten days to find him.
Ten days to make him fall for her.
Oh, and he has no recollection of them ever having met…
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!
APRIL
Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Some of you might recognise the name of this author – her latest books are (and this isn’t me putting it mildly) VIRAL and have sold tons of copies. But Rebecca Yarros also writes non-fantasy books and the few of hers I have read previously focus on military-type hero’s (she’s been married to hers for 20 plus years).
Spread out over a decade, the story takes you from their initial encounter in the USA to the chaotic backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan.
Throughout the book, the central question is how one can endure and stay committed to love when your job constantly puts you in perilous situations where death is a daily reality.
Because I’m a sentimental fool, I felt every single heartbeat! And I really enjoy a strong female main character who stands her ground and loves deeply.
And Nate…oh Nate… I listened to this in audiobook format, narrated by some of my favourite male and female voices. Audiobooks are my jam, especially those told from dual perspectives because they really help you connect with the characters and give you that feeling of being immersed in the story.
Nate and Isabeau’s meeting happens under pretty scary circumstances (think a plane going down into a river!), and it forges a bond between them that neither of them expected. I absolutely adore a soulmate story, that destined-love vibe, and this one ticked all the boxes for me. Did I shed some tears? Oh, you bet I did!
Blurb:
When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.
Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.
Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.
Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.
Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.
He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.
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.