The Books you should be reading this February

*I received advanced review copies of these books via NetGalley. This post contains affiliate links*

Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that reading has been my saviour throughout lockdown and 2020. I am reading every single night without fail. It helps me sleep, it helps distract me from aimlessly scrolling through social media and it keeps my mind away from breaking news updates and scaremongering headlines.

I have read a HUGE 10 books in the last month alone – here are some new releases that you might want to check out this February!

For some much needed romantic escapism…

Mr Right Across the Street – by Kathryn Freeman

Well this was a lovely bit of an escapism at a time when the world feels like a very scary place.

Mr Right Across the Street is about Mia – the moves to Manchester from Somerset for a fresh start, escaping memories of yet another disastrous relationship. – this time a controlling and stalling ex boyfriend named Pete. She always seems to fall for the wrong men, so felt it was time to mix things up a bit. She doesn’t know anyone in Manchester but very quickly forms a friendship with her neighbour Stan – a 67 year old grumpy and overweight man with a heart of gold.

Other than that, the only people she sees whilst working from home are the Hot Guy opposite (who works out every day at 10 in his window) and Immaculate Woman, who sits at her desk every day looking absolutely perfect. Her sister reminds her that in order to meet new people, she actually has to step away from her desk.

She finally braves heading to the local pub and gets quite a shock when she sees the Hot Guy from opposite behind the bar. The manager of The Bar Beneath – Luke – finds Mia fascinating. Her not trying too hard, geeky and make up free persona is like no woman he’s ever met before and he finds himself really drawn to her. Mia however very quickly learns that Luke is extremely popular with the ladies, seeming to have history with a fair few of the women that come to the bar. Mia’s been hurt by bad choices before, so she declines his request for a date.

Then however, when Luke realises that Mia lives opposite and starts leaving notes for her in his window. Despite her attempts to push him away, Mia eventually agrees to go on a Non Date with Luke – after all she could certainly do with some more friends in a strange big city.

The characters are built up really well in Mr Right Across the Street, and I found myself really liking Mia and her intelligent, geeky, and stubborn ways (although I at times did want to slap her for some of the self sabotage and found myself willing her to take a risk!). I loved the adorable nature of her relationship with neighbour Stan, and the more I got to know about Luke the more I liked him, especially as some of his history and past was slowly revealed.

This book whilst a tad predictable in parts (again fairly standard for a rom com I feel), had a few unexpected reveals and challenges along the way and was well paced with lots of humour and smile inducing moments throughout,. The path to true love never did run smooth but that’s what kept my attention.

As with any rom com, there is a fair bit of cheese and I am yet to meet a man in real life who would be so free with his emotions and speak quite like Luke however, that’s what rom coms are all about. – a lighthearted, humorous and heart warming escape from breaking news and a great book to read before bed. If the reference to ‘Moby’ doesn’t make you laugh, then nothing will.

Mr Right Across the Street is out now at Amazon – get yours here.

My score – 4/5

The Psychological Thriller

The Dare by Lesley Kara (released on 18th February 2021)

This is my second book from this author, having previously read and enjoyed The Rumour so I was looking forward to what Lesley Kara had in store for her next book.

I absolutely loved The Dare.. A psychological thriller with lots of twists, turns and tension that leaves you compelled to keep on reading, I read the entire book in 12 hours with a sleep in the middle lol!

Lizzie and her best friend Alice and inseparable teenage girls. When Alice dies after being struck by a train on one of their regular walks, Lizzie’s memories of the day are hazy. An epileptic, Lizzie had a seizure and when she came to her best friend was dead.

After Alice’s death, Lizzie is alienated from her friends and Alice’s family, particularly her sister Catherine, are convinced that Lizzie had something to do with Alice’s death. Lizzie’s family move away and the traumas of her childhood are left behind.

Now 20, Lizzie is living with her GP husband (something which is a huge reassurance to Lizzie’s parents) wher epilepsy is under control. Life looks like it’s starting to settle down, when suddenly the crank calls begin, a little train is left outside their house and the nightmares return. But are they really nightmares, or are they memories!?

The past starts to catch up with Lizzie and brings into question what really happened that day on the tracks.

A great read, I enjoyed the narrative changes and The Dare kept me guessing throughout.

Told between NOW and THEN perspectives, (with THEN being both before and after the incident), the story flicks between past and present to build up a back story of what happened on the run up to that fateful day.

My only slight critique is that the title of the book doesn’t really fit the main storyline of the book in my opinion – the Dare element is a very minor part of the plot. That said, I have no idea what I would call it instead and that doesn’t detract from the fact that I would recommend this book whole heartedly.

The Dare is released on the 18th February but you can pre order yours now on Amazon.

My rating – 5/5!

For a spooky read with a difference…

Shadow of a Doubt by Michelle Davies

As a 9 year old girl, Cara Belling was sent to a psychiatric ward and began a life in foster care, accused of murdering her younger brother Matty, who was suffocated by a curtain in the living room of their family home, To this day, Cara protests her innocence; stating that Matty was actually killed by a ghost called Limey Stan who had been haunting their house for years.

26 years later, Cara receives a text from her Aunt to say her biological Mother has died. With no contact all this time, she is shocked to discover that whilst she is not welcome at the funeral, her Mother has requested her presence at the will reading. When her Mum surprises everyone by leaving Cara the family home in her will, Cara is determined to find out why, returning to Heldean for the first time since that day.

Stepping back into the four walls of where she grew up brings back a lot of memories regarding the lead up to her brothers death and soon the strange encounters start again. Is Cara still delusional, or is Limey Stan back to finish what he started?

I LOVED Shadow of a Doubt – fast paced with lots of tension and suspense, I felt willed to carry on reading and discover the truth about Limey Stan and what really happened to Matty that night. The story, whilst in parts a little far fetched, really held my attention and left me constantly guessing people’s behaviours and motives. There were a fair few twists and turns along the way some of which I predicted, but even when I thought I had it all figured out, another unexpected turn led me down a very different path!

Shadow of a Doubt was my first experience of a book by Michelle Davies, but definitely won’t be my last! Out now at Amazon on kindle, hardback or paperback. Get yours here.

My score - 4/5

And for the Kids…

Love by Corrinne Averiss

This book is just gorgeous. With beautiful illustrations throughout, this story is an ideal read for younger children who are experiencing being separated from the ones they love – whether that’s due to Covid times in 2021, starting a new school or nursery, or who’s parents may live in separate houses.

The story reminds children that love is like a piece of string that can stretch and stretch – although you may not always be able to see who is on the other end – they are always there. Sometimes the string may get frayed or tangled. but true love never breaks.

Using the visual metaphor of string to represent love, it shows how new strings can form and old strings can last the test of time, even when challenges get in the way.

Adorable and the perfect Valentine’s read.

Love by Corrinne Averiss is available as a beautifully illustrated hard back book – get yours here. (Image courtesy of Corrine Averiss on Twitter)